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‘‘(1) ANNUAL REPORT.—The Accelerator shall 
publish an annual report which shall be transmitted 
by the Accelerator to the President and the Con-
gress. 
‘‘(2) ANNUAL AUDIT OF ACCOUNTS.—The ac-
counts of the Accelerator shall be audited annually. 
Such audits shall be conducted in accordance with 
generally accepted auditing standards by inde-
pendent certified public accountants who are cer-
tified by a regulatory authority of the jurisdiction in 
which the audit is undertaken. 
‘‘(3) ADDITIONAL AUDITS.—In addition to the 
annual audits under paragraph (2), the financial 
transactions of the Accelerator for any fiscal year 
during which Federal funds are available to finance 
any portion of its operations may be audited by the 
Government Accountability Office in accordance with 
such rules and regulations as may be prescribed by 
the Comptroller General of the United States. 
‘‘SEC. 1632. MAXIMUM CONTINGENT LIABILITY. 
‘‘The maximum contingent liability of the Accelerator 
that may be outstanding at any time shall be not more 
than $70,000,000,000 in the aggregate.’’. 
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Subtitle E—Scientific Integrity 
SEC. 12501. SENSE OF CONGRESS. 
It is the sense of Congress that— 
(1) science and the scientific process should 
help inform and guide public policy decisions on a 
wide range of issues, including improvement of pub-
lic health, protection of the environment, and protec-
tion of national security; 
(2) the public must be able to trust the science 
and scientific process informing public policy deci-
sions; 
(3) science, the scientific process, and the com-
munication of science should be free from politics, 
ideology, and financial conflicts of interest; 
(4) policies and procedures that ensure the in-
tegrity of the conduct and communication of publicly 
funded science are critical to ensuring public trust; 
(5) a Federal agency that funds, conducts, or 
oversees research should not suppress, alter, inter-
fere with, or otherwise impede the timely commu-
nication and open exchange of data and findings to 
other agencies, policymakers, and the public of re-
search conducted by a scientist or engineer employed 
or contracted by a Federal agency that funds, con-
ducts, or oversees scientific research; 
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(6) Federal agencies that fund, conduct, or 
oversee research should work to prevent the suppres-
sion or distortion of the data and findings; 
(7) under the First Amendment to the Con-
stitution, citizens of the United States have the right 
to ‘‘petition the government for a redress of griev-
ances’’; and 
(8) Congress has further protected those rights 
under section 7211 of title 5, United States Code, 
which states, ‘‘the right of employees, individually or 
collectively, to petition Congress or a member of 
Congress . . . may not be interfered with or denied’’. 
SEC. 12502. AMENDMENT TO AMERICA COMPETES ACT. 
Section 1009 of the America COMPETES Act (42 
U.S.C. 6620) is amended by striking subsections (a) and 
(b) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(a) SCIENTIFIC INTEGRITY POLICIES.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days 
after the date of enactment of the Scientific Integ-
rity Act, the head of each covered agency shall— 
‘‘(A) adopt and enforce a scientific integ-
rity policy in accordance with subsections (b) 
and (c); and 
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‘‘(B) submit such policy to the Director of 
the Office of Science and Technology Policy for 
approval. 
‘‘(2) PUBLICATION.—Not later than 30 days 
after the Director of the Office of Science and Tech-
nology Policy approves the scientific integrity policy 
under paragraph (1), the head of each covered agen-
cy shall— 
‘‘(A) make such policy available to the 
public on the website of the agency; and 
‘‘(B) submit such policy to the relevant 
Committees of Congress. 
‘‘(b) REQUIREMENTS.—A scientific integrity policy 
under subsection (a)— 
‘‘(1) shall prohibit any covered individual 
from— 
‘‘(A) engaging in dishonesty, fraud, deceit, 
misrepresentation, coercive manipulation, or 
other scientific or research misconduct; 
‘‘(B) 
suppressing, 
altering, 
interfering 
with, delaying without scientific merit, or other-
wise impeding the release and communication 
of, scientific or technical findings; 
‘‘(C) intimidating or coercing an individual 
to alter or censor, attempting to intimidate or 
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coerce an individual to alter or censor, or retali-
ating against an individual for failure to alter 
or censor, scientific or technical findings; or 
‘‘(D) implementing an institutional barrier 
to cooperation with scientists outside the cov-
ered agency and the timely communication of 
scientific or technical findings; 
‘‘(2) shall allow a covered individual to— 
‘‘(A) disseminate scientific or technical 
findings, subject to existing law, by— 
‘‘(i) participating in scientific con-
ferences; and 
‘‘(ii) seeking publication in online and 
print publications through peer-reviewed, 
professional, or scholarly journals; 
‘‘(B) sit on scientific advisory or governing 
boards; 
‘‘(C) join or hold leadership positions on 
scientific councils, societies, unions, and other 
professional organizations; 
‘‘(D) contribute to the academic peer-re-
view process as reviewers or editors; and 
‘‘(E) participate and engage with the sci-
entific community; 
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‘‘(3) may require a covered individual to, before 
disseminating scientific or technical findings as de-
scribed in paragraph (2)(A), submit such findings to 
the agency for the purpose of review by the agency 
of the data and findings for technical accuracy if the 
scientific integrity policy outlines a clear and con-
sistent process for such review; and 
‘‘(4) shall require that— 
‘‘(A) scientific conclusions are not made 
based on political considerations; 
‘‘(B) the selection and retention of can-
didates for science and technology positions in 
the covered agency are based primarily on the 
candidate’s expertise, scientific credentials, ex-
perience, and integrity; 
‘‘(C) personnel actions regarding covered 
individuals, except for political appointees, are 
not taken on the basis of political consideration 
or ideology; 
‘‘(D) covered individuals adhere to the 
highest ethical and professional standards in 
conducting their research and disseminating 
their findings; 
‘‘(E) the appropriate rules, procedures, 
and safeguards are in place to ensure the integ-
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rity of the scientific process within the covered 
agency; 
‘‘(F) scientific or technological information 
considered in policy decisions is subject to well- 
established scientific processes, including peer 
review where appropriate; 
‘‘(G) procedures, including procedures with 
respect to applicable whistleblower protections, 
are in place as are necessary to ensure the in-
tegrity of scientific and technological informa-
tion and processes on which the covered agency 
relies in its decision making or otherwise uses; 
and 
‘‘(H) enforcement of such policy is con-
sistent with the processes for an administrative 
hearing and an administrative appeal. 
‘‘(c) IMPLEMENTATION.—In carrying out subsection 
(a), the head of each covered agency shall— 
‘‘(1) design the scientific integrity policy to 
apply with respect to the covered agency; 
‘‘(2) ensure that such policy is clear with re-
spect to what activities are permitted and what ac-
tivities are not permitted; 
‘‘(3) ensure that there is a process for individ-
uals not employed or contracted by the agency, in-
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cluding grantees, collaborators, partners, and volun-
teers, to report violations of the scientific integrity 
policy; 
‘‘(4) enforce such policy uniformly throughout 
the covered agency; and 
‘‘(5) make such policy available to the public, 
employees, private contractors, and grantees of the 
covered agency. 
‘‘(d) SCIENTIFIC INTEGRITY OFFICER.—Not later 
than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, each 
covered agency shall appoint a Scientific Integrity Officer, 
who shall— 
‘‘(1) be a career employee at the covered agency 
in a professional position; 
‘‘(2) have technical knowledge and expertise in 
conducting and overseeing scientific research; 
‘‘(3) direct the activities and duties described in 
subsections (e), (f), and (g); and 
‘‘(4) work closely with the inspector general of 
the covered agency, as appropriate. 
‘‘(e) ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESS AND TRAINING.— 
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the head of each covered agency shall establish— 
‘‘(1) an administrative process and administra-
tive appeal process for dispute resolution consistent 
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with the scientific integrity policy of the covered 
agency adopted under subsection (a); and 
‘‘(2) a training program to provide— 
‘‘(A) regular scientific integrity and ethics 
training to employees and contractors of the 
covered agency; 
‘‘(B) new covered employees with training 
within one month of commencing employment; 
‘‘(C) information to ensure that covered in-
dividuals are fully aware of their rights and re-
sponsibilities regarding the conduct of scientific 
research, publication of scientific research, and 
communication with the media and the public 
regarding scientific research; and 
‘‘(D) information to ensure that covered 
individuals are fully aware of their rights and 
responsibilities for administrative hearings and 
appeals established in the covered agency’s sci-
entific integrity policy. 
‘‘(f) REPORTING.— 
‘‘(1) ANNUAL REPORT.—Each year, each Sci-
entific Integrity Officer appointed by a covered agen-
cy under subsection (d) shall post an annual report 
on the public website of the covered agency that in-
cludes, for the year covered by the report— 
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‘‘(A) the number of complaints of mis-
conduct with respect to the scientific integrity 
policy adopted under subsection (a)— 
‘‘(i) filed for administrative redress; 
‘‘(ii) petitioned for administrative ap-
peal; and 
‘‘(iii) still pending from years prior to 
the year covered by the report, if any; 
‘‘(B) an anonymized summary of each such 
complaint and the results of each such com-
plaint; and 
‘‘(C) any changes made to the scientific in-
tegrity policy. 
‘‘(2) INCIDENT REPORT.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 30 
days after the date on which an incident de-
scribed in subparagraph (B) occurs, the head of 
a covered agency shall submit a report describ-
ing the incident to the Office of Science and 
Technology Policy and the relevant Committees 
of Congress. 
‘‘(B) INCIDENT.—An incident described 
under this paragraph is an incident in which an 
individual, acting outside the channels estab-
lished under subsection (e), overrules the deci-
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sion of the Scientific Integrity Officer with re-
spect to a dispute regarding a violation of the 
scientific integrity policy. 
‘‘(g) OFFICE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY POL-
ICY.—The Director of the Office of Science and Tech-
nology Policy shall— 
‘‘(1) collate, organize, and publicly share all in-
formation it receives under subsection (f) in one 
place on its own website; and 
‘‘(2) on an annual basis, convene the Scientific 
Integrity Officer of each covered agency appointed 
under subsection (d) to discuss best practices for im-
plementing the requirements of this section. 
‘‘(h) PERIODIC REVIEW AND APPROVAL.— 
‘‘(1) INTERNAL
REVIEW.—The head of each 
covered agency shall periodically conduct a review of 
the scientific integrity policy and change such policy 
as appropriate. 
‘‘(2) REVIEW BY THE OFFICE OF SCIENCE AND 
TECHNOLOGY POLICY.— 
‘‘(A) 
REVIEW
OF
SUBSTANTIAL
UP-
DATES.—The head of each covered agency shall 
submit to the Office of Science and Technology 
Policy for approval any substantial changes to 
the scientific integrity policy. 
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‘‘(B) QUINQUENNIAL REVIEW.—Not later 
than 5 years after the date of the enactment of 
the Clean Economy Jobs and Innovation Act, 
and quinquennially thereafter, the head of each 
covered agency shall submit the scientific integ-
rity policy to the Office of Science and Tech-
nology Policy for review and approval. 
‘‘(i) COMPTROLLER GENERAL REVIEW.—Not later 
than 2 years after the date of the enactment of the Clean 
Economy Jobs and Innovation Act, the Comptroller Gen-
eral shall conduct a review of the implementation of the 
scientific integrity policy by each covered agency. 
‘‘(j) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) AGENCY.—The term ‘agency’ has the 
meaning given the term in section 551 of title 5, 
United States Code. 
‘‘(2) COVERED
AGENCY.—The term ‘covered 
agency’ means an agency that funds, conducts, or 
oversees scientific research. 
‘‘(3) COVERED
INDIVIDUAL.—The term ‘cov-
ered individual’ means a Federal employee or con-
tractor who— 
‘‘(A) is engaged in, supervises, or manages 
scientific activities; 
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‘‘(B) analyzes or publicly communicates in-
formation resulting from scientific activities; or 
‘‘(C) uses scientific information or analyses 
in making bureau, office, or agency policy, man-
agement, or regulatory decisions. 
‘‘(4) RELEVANT COMMITTEES OF CONGRESS.— 
The 
term 
‘relevant 
Committees 
of 
Congress’ 
means— 
‘‘(A) 
the 
Committee 
on 
Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate; and 
‘‘(B) the Committee on Science, Space, 
and Technology of the House of Representa-
tives.’’. 
SEC. 12503. EXISTING POLICIES; CLARIFICATION. 
(a) EXISTING SCIENTIFIC INTEGRITY POLICIES.— 
Notwithstanding the amendments made by this subtitle, 
a covered agency’s scientific integrity policy that was in 
effect on the day before the date of enactment of this Act 
may satisfy the requirements under the amendments made 
by this subtitle if the head of the covered agency— 
(1) makes a written determination that the pol-
icy satisfies such requirements; and 
(2) submits the written determination and the 
policy to the Director of the Office of Science and 
Technology Policy for review and approval. 
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(b) CLARIFICATION.—Nothing in this subtitle shall 
affect the application of United States copyright law. 
(c) COVERED AGENCY DEFINED.—The term ‘‘cov-
ered agency’’ has the meaning given the term in section 
1009 of the America COMPETES Act (42 U.S.C. 6620). 
Subtitle F—Other Matters 
SEC. 12601. AUTHORIZATION. 
Section 112(a)(1)(B) of the Uranium Mill Tailings 
Radiation Control Act of 1978 (42 U.S.C. 7922(a)(1)(B)) 
is amended by striking ‘‘September 30, 2023’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘September 30, 2031’’. 
SEC. 12602. ADDRESSING INSUFFICIENT COMPENSATION 
OF EMPLOYEES AND OTHER PERSONNEL OF 
THE FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COM-
MISSION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 401 of the Department of 
Energy Organization Act (42 U.S.C. 7171) is amended 
by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(k) ADDRESSING INSUFFICIENT COMPENSATION OF 
EMPLOYEES AND OTHER PERSONNEL OF THE COMMIS-
SION.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other 
provision of law, if the Chairman publicly certifies 
that compensation for a category of employees or 
other personnel of the Commission is insufficient to 
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retain or attract employees and other personnel to 
allow the Commission to carry out the functions of 
the Commission in a timely, efficient, and effective 
manner, the Chairman may fix the compensation for 
the category of employees or other personnel without 
regard to chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 
53 of title 5, United States Code, or any other civil 
service law. 
‘‘(2) CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS.—A cer-
tification issued under paragraph (1) shall— 
‘‘(A) apply with respect to a category of 
employees or other personnel responsible for 
conducting work of a scientific, technological, 
engineering, or mathematical nature; 
‘‘(B) specify a maximum amount of rea-
sonable compensation for the category of em-
ployees or other personnel; 
‘‘(C) be valid for a 5-year period beginning 
on the date on which the certification is issued; 
‘‘(D) be no broader than necessary to 
achieve the objective of retaining or attracting 
employees and other personnel to allow the 
Commission to carry out the functions of the 
Commission in a timely, efficient, and effective 
manner; and 
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‘‘(E) include an explanation for why the 
other approaches available to the Chairman for 
retaining and attracting employees and other 
personnel are inadequate. 
‘‘(3) RENEWAL.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 90 
days before the date of expiration of a certifi-
cation issued under paragraph (1), the Chair-
man shall determine whether the certification 
should be renewed for a subsequent 5-year pe-
riod. 
‘‘(B) REQUIREMENT.—If the Chairman de-
termines that a certification should be renewed 
under subparagraph (A), the Chairman may 
renew the certification, subject to the certifi-
cation requirements under paragraph (2) that 
were applicable to the initial certification. 
‘‘(4) NEW HIRES.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—An employee or other 
personnel that is a member of a category of em-
ployees or other personnel that would have been 
covered by a certification issued under para-
graph (1), but was hired during a period in 
which the certification has expired and has not 
been renewed under paragraph (3) shall not be 
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eligible for compensation at the level that would 
have applied to the employee or other personnel 
if the certification had been in effect on the 
date on which the employee or other personnel 
was hired. 
‘‘(B) COMPENSATION OF NEW HIRES ON 
RENEWAL.—On renewal of a certification under 
paragraph (3), the Chairman may fix the com-
pensation of the employees or other personnel 
described in subparagraph (A) at the level es-
tablished for the category of employees or other 
personnel in the certification. 
‘‘(5) RETENTION
OF
LEVEL
OF
FIXED
COM-
PENSATION.—A category of employees or other per-
sonnel, the compensation of which was fixed by the 
Chairman in accordance with paragraph (1), may, at 
the discretion of the Chairman, have the level of 
fixed compensation for the category of employees or 
other personnel retained, regardless of whether a 
certification described under that paragraph is in ef-
fect with respect to the compensation of the category 
of employees or other personnel. 
‘‘(6) CONSULTATION
REQUIRED.—The Chair-
man shall consult with the Director of the Office of 
Personnel Management in implementing this sub-
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‘‘(i) to the maximum extent prac-
ticable, limit the use of experts and con-
sultants pursuant to subparagraph (A); 
and 
‘‘(ii) ensure that the employment con-
tract of each expert and consultant em-
ployed pursuant to subparagraph (A) is 
subject to renewal not less frequently than 
annually.’’. 
(b) REPORTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date of enactment of this Act, and every 2 years 
thereafter for 10 years, the Chairman of the Federal 
Energy Regulatory Commission shall submit to the 
Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House 
of Representatives and the Committee on Energy 
and Natural Resources of the Senate a report on in-
formation relating to hiring, vacancies, and com-
pensation at the Federal Energy Regulatory Com-
mission. 
(2) INCLUSIONS.—Each report under para-
graph (1) shall include— 
(A) an analysis of any trends with respect 
to hiring, vacancies, and compensation at the 
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission; and 
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(B) a description of the efforts to retain 
and attract employees or other personnel re-
sponsible for conducting work of a scientific, 
technological, engineering, or mathematical na-
ture at the Federal Energy Regulatory Com-
mission. 
(c) APPLICABILITY.—The amendment made by sub-
section (a) shall apply beginning on the date that is 30 
days after the date of enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 12603. OFFICE OF PUBLIC PARTICIPATION. 
Section 319 of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 
825q–1) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)(1), by inserting ‘‘, to fa-
cilitate communication with the public relating to, 
and participation by the public in, matters under the 
jurisdiction of the Commission, including under this 
Act and the Natural Gas Act’’ before the period at 
the end; 
(2) in subsection (b), by striking paragraph (4) 
and inserting the following: 
‘‘(4) The Office shall promote, through outreach, 
publications, and, as appropriate, direct communication 
with entities regulated by the Commission— 
‘‘(A) improved compliance with rules and orders 
of the Commission; and 
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‘‘(B) public participation in matters before the 
Commission. 
‘‘(5) The Director may assign staff to intervene, ap-
pear, and participate in administrative, regulatory, or ju-
dicial proceedings on behalf of individuals or entities inter-
vening or participating, or proposing to intervene or par-
ticipate, in proceedings before the Commission by rep-
resenting the interests of such individuals or entities on 
any matter before the Commission. 
‘‘(6) The Office shall advocate for, and act as a liai-
son with, environmental justice communities on matters 
under the jurisdiction of the Commission.’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(c) FUNDING.—Funding for the Office shall be de-
rived from fees and charges collected under section 3401 
of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1986. 
‘‘(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) COMMUNITY OF COLOR.—The term ‘com-
munity of color’ means any geographically distinct 
area the population of color of which is higher than 
the average population of color of the State in which 
the community is located. 
‘‘(2) ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COMMUNITY.— 
The term ‘environmental justice community’ means 
a community with significant representation of com-
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munities of color, low-income communities, or indig-
enous communities, that experiences, or is at risk of 
experiencing, higher or more adverse human health 
or environmental effects. 
‘‘(3) INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY.—The term ‘in-
digenous community’ means— 
‘‘(A) a federally recognized Indian Tribe; 
‘‘(B) a State-recognized Indian Tribe; 
‘‘(C) an Alaska Native or Native Hawaiian 
community or organization; and 
‘‘(D) any other community of indigenous 
people. 
‘‘(4) LOW-INCOME
COMMUNITY.—The term 
‘low-income community’ means any census block 
group in which 30 percent or more of the population 
are individuals with low income. 
‘‘(5) POPULATION OF COLOR.—The term ‘popu-
lation of color’ means a population of individuals 
who identify as— 
‘‘(A) Black; 
‘‘(B) African American; 
‘‘(C) Asian; 
‘‘(D) Pacific Islander; 
‘‘(E) another non-White race; 
‘‘(F) Hispanic; 
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‘‘(G) Latino; or 
‘‘(H) linguistically isolated.’’. 
SEC. 12604. BACKGROUND OZONE RESEARCH. 
(a) STUDY
ON BACKGROUND OZONE RESEARCH 
NEEDS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 60 days after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator 
of the Environmental Protection Agency shall seek 
to enter an agreement with the National Academies 
of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (referred to 
in this section as the ‘‘National Academies’’) under 
which the National Academies shall conduct a study 
on the current and future research needs regarding 
background ozone. The study shall— 
(A) propose a framework of standard 
terms and definitions for types of non-local 
ground level ozone, including types of back-
ground ozone, to standardize research on 
ground-level ozone; 
(B) examine the current understanding of 
background sources of ozone and the contribu-
tion of such sources to ground-level ozone in the 
United States to identify gaps in knowledge 
that need to be addressed with additional re-
search; 
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(C) examine challenges in quantifying the 
sources of background ozone and the contribu-
tions of each such source to ground-level ozone 
on a regional scale in the United States and 
identifies specific research needs to address 
these challenges; 
(D) include an outline of a plan for a re-
search and development program, including 
specifications for costs, timeframes, and respon-
sible agencies, to support analysis and dem-
onstration of background ozone trends, includ-
ing by— 
(i) improving collection and observa-
tional infrastructure; 
(ii) improving confidence in model 
outputs; 
(iii) reducing uncertainties in esti-
mates of background ozone; and 
(iv) making background ozone re-
search outputs more useful and accessible 
to decision-makers; and 
(E) identify opportunities for international 
engagement that may facilitate increased re-
search collaborations that improve under-
standing of ozone trends. 
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(2) REPORT.—As a condition of any agreement 
under subsection (a), the Administrator shall require 
that the National Academies transmit to Congress a 
report on the results of the study under subsection 
(a) not later than 24 months after the date on which 
such agreement is finalized. 
(b) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
$1,200,000. 
SEC. 12605. SMOKE PLANNING AND RESEARCH. 
(a) RESEARCH ON WILDFIRE SMOKE.— 
(1) CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 180 
days after the date of enactment of this Act, 
the Administrator of the Environmental Protec-
tion Agency (referred to in this subsection as 
the ‘‘Administrator’’) shall establish at institu-
tions of higher education (as defined in section 
101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
(20 U.S.C. 1001(a))) 4 centers, each of which 
shall be known as a ‘‘Center of Excellence for 
Wildfire Smoke’’, to carry out research, out-
reach, and community engagement, relating 
to— 
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(i) the effects on public health, includ-
ing the health of outdoor workers, of 
smoke emissions from wildland fires; and 
(ii) means by which communities can 
better respond to the impacts of emissions 
from wildland fires. 
(B) PRIORITY.—In selecting institutions of 
higher education at which to establish a center 
under subparagraph (A), the Administrator 
shall give priority to institutions that— 
(i) have established expertise or dedi-
cated centers for air quality research; 
(ii) have experience with relevant out-
reach and extension work; 
(iii) have established relationships 
with relevant Federal, State, and local 
agencies, community organizations, and In-
dian Tribes; and 
(iv) are located in an area that is eco-
nomically or environmentally impacted by 
wildfire smoke. 
(C) 
AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIA-
TIONS.—There is authorized to be appropriated 
to the Administrator to carry out this para-
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graph $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
2021 through 2025. 
(2) RESEARCH.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 180 
days after the date of enactment of this Act, 
the Administrator shall carry out research— 
(i) to study the health effects of 
smoke emissions from wildland fires; 
(ii) to develop and disseminate per-
sonal and community-based interventions 
to reduce exposure to and adverse health 
effects of smoke emissions from wildland 
fires; 
(iii) to increase the quality of smoke 
monitoring and prediction tools and tech-
niques; and 
(iv) to develop implementation and 
communication strategies. 
(B) 
AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIA-
TIONS.—There is authorized to be appropriated 
to the Administrator to carry out this para-
graph $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
2021 through 2025. 
(b) COMMUNITY SMOKE PLANNING.— 
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(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Adminis-
trator shall establish a competitive grant program to 
assist eligible entities described in paragraph (2) in 
developing and implementing collaborative commu-
nity plans for mitigating the impacts of smoke emis-
sions from wildland fires. 
(2) ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.—An entity that is eli-
gible to submit an application for a grant under 
paragraph (1) is— 
(A) a State; 
(B) a unit of local government (including 
any special district, such as an air quality man-
agement district or a school district); or 
(C) an Indian Tribe. 
(3) APPLICATIONS.—To be eligible to receive a 
grant under paragraph (1), an eligible entity de-
scribed in paragraph (2) shall submit to the Admin-
istrator an application at such time, in such manner, 
and containing such information as the Adminis-
trator may require, which shall include plans to col-
laborate with a public institution of higher education 
or other research institution that— 
(A) has established expertise or dedicated 
centers for air quality research; 
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(B) has experience with relevant outreach 
and extension work; 
(C) has established relationships with rel-
evant Federal, State, and local agencies, com-
munity organizations, and Indian Tribes; and 
(D) is located in an area that is economi-
cally or environmentally impacted by wildfire 
smoke. 
(4) TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE.—The Adminis-
trator may use amounts made available to carry out 
this subsection to provide to eligible entities de-
scribed in paragraph (2) technical assistance in— 
(A) submitting grant applications under 
paragraph (3); or 
(B) carrying out projects using a grant 
under this subsection. 
(5) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.— 
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Ad-
ministrator to carry out this subsection $50,000,000 
for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2025. 
SEC. 12606. REPORT ON EFFECTS OF EMISSIONS FROM FOS-
SIL FUEL FACILITIES. 
(a) STUDY.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall con-
duct a study to evaluate the effect of emissions from 
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fossil fuel facilities on the health of environmental 
justice communities, including such effects on the 
environment or that result in adverse human health 
for such communities. 
(2) INCLUSION.—In evaluating effects under 
paragraph (1), the Administrator of the Environ-
mental Protection Agency shall consider the distance 
between fossil fuel facilities and environmental jus-
tice communities. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit 
to Congress a report that summarizes the study conducted 
under subsection (a). 
(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) ADMINISTRATOR.—The term ‘‘Adminis-
trator’’ means the Administrator of the Environ-
mental Protection Agency. 
(2) ENVIRONMENTAL
JUSTICE
COMMUNITY.— 
The term ‘‘environmental justice community’’ has 
the meaning given such term in section 11001. 
(3) FOSSIL FUEL FACILITY.—The term ‘‘fossil 
fuel facility’’ has the meaning given such term by 
the Administrator for purposes of the National 
Emissions Inventory. 
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SEC. 12607. WILDFIRE HAZARD SEVERITY MAPPING FOR 
ELECTRIC 
TRANSMISSION 
AND 
DISTRIBU-
TION INFRASTRUCTURE. 
(a) MAP REQUIRED.—Not later than 2 years after 
the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary 
of Energy shall— 
(1) use the most recent LANDFIRE data to 
generate a geospatial map for the conterminous 
United States that depicts wildfire risk to electric 
utilities that— 
(A) manage electric transmission infra-
structure or rights-of-ways on public lands; and 
(B) maintain equipment that is at risk of 
igniting or being impacted by wildland fire; and 
(2) disseminate the information generated 
under paragraph (1) in an appropriate format for 
use by electric utilities in order to— 
(A) improve understanding of wildfire risk; 
(B) identify areas and assets at the highest 
risk; 
(C) prioritize infrastructure maintenance 
and vegetation management; 
(D) identify opportunities for energy stor-
age and microgrid projects; and 
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(E) develop plans for regular and emer-
gency access to manage and mitigate wildfire 
risk. 
(b) CONSULTATION.—In carrying out subsection (a), 
the Secretary of Energy shall consult with— 
(1) the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through 
the Chief of the Forest Service; 
(2) the Secretary of the Interior; 
(3) the Administrator of the Federal Emer-
gency Management Agency; 
(4) other appropriate Federal agencies; 
(5) States; 
(6) relevant colleges, universities, and institu-
tions of higher education with relevant expertise; 
and 
(7) other entities, as appropriate. 
(c) ELECTRIC UTILITY DEFINED.—In this section, 
the term ‘‘electric utility’’ means— 
(1) a rural electric cooperative; 
(2) a political subdivision of a State, such as a 
municipally owned electric utility, or any agency, au-
thority, corporation, or instrumentality of one or 
more State political subdivisions; and 
(3) an investor-owned utility. 
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SEC. 12608. WILDFIRE SMOKE EMISSIONS MODELING AND 
FORECASTING IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the Na-
tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, in col-
laboration with other Federal agencies and such academic 
entities as the Administrator considers appropriate, shall 
maintain a program to improve wildfire smoke emissions 
modeling and develop smoke forecasts. 
(b) GOAL.—The goal of the program under sub-
section (a) shall be to develop and extend accurate wildfire 
smoke forecasts and impact-based decision support serv-
ices in order to reduce loss of life, injury, and damage 
to the economy with a focus on— 
(1) improving modeling of wildfire smoke emis-
sions, transport, mixing, and chemical trans-
formations through advanced modeling approaches; 
(2) developing and disseminating smoke fore-
casts; and 
(3) incorporating risk communication research 
in developing smoke forecasts and fire weather 
warning products. 
(c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator of the 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to 
carry out this section $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
2021 through 2025. 
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SEC. 12609. EXPOSURE TO WILDFIRE SMOKE AND AIR POL-
LUTION. 
(a) IMPACTS OF ACUTE EXPOSURE TO WILDIFRE 
SMOKE AND COVID–19.—The Administrator of the Envi-
ronmental Protection Agency, in coordination with the Di-
rector of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 
and other Federal agencies as appropriate, shall coordi-
nate data collection and epidemiological analysis of the im-
pacts of acute air pollution exposure from wildfires in the 
context of the COVID–19 pandemic. 
(b) CHRONIC AIR POLLUTION EXPOSURE.—The Ad-
ministrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, act-
ing through the Assistant Administrator for Research and 
Development, shall coordinate with academic institutions 
and other research organizations to conduct research to 
estimate the impacts of chronic exposure to air pollutants, 
and other pertinent variables, in the context of responding 
to the COVID–19 pandemic. 
SEC. 12610. BUDGETARY EFFECTS. 
The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of 
complying with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, 
shall be determined by reference to the latest statement 
titled ‘‘Budgetary Effects of PAYGO Legislation’’ for this 
Act, submitted for printing in the Congressional Record 
by the Chairman of the House Budget Committee, pro-
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vided that such statement has been submitted prior to the 
vote on passage. 
SEC. 12611. EFFECTIVE DATE. 
This Act, and the amendments made by this Act, 
shall not take effect until the date on which the Secretary 
of Energy submits to Congress a certification that imple-
mentation of this Act, and the amendments made by this 
Act, will not reduce the energy security or energy inde-
pendence of the United States. 
SEC. 12612. EFFECTIVE DATE. 
This Act, and the amendments made by this Act, 
shall not take effect until the date on which the Secretary 
of Energy submits to Congress a certification that imple-
mentation of this Act, and the amendments made by this 
Act, will not increase electric rates or gasoline prices out-
side of normal market factors. 
SEC. 12613. REPORT ON MINING OF CRITICAL MINERALS 
USING FORCED LABOR IN FOREIGN COUN-
TRIES. 
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior, in consulta-
tion with the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border 
Protection and the Secretary of State, shall submit to the 
Congress a report evaluating the use of child labor, slav-
ery, or human trafficking to mine or otherwise obtain one 
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or more of the minerals listed in the Notice of the Depart-
ment of the Interior entitled ‘‘Final List of Critical Min-
erals 2018’’ (83 Fed. Reg. 23295), or in any successor 
notice updating such Final List, for export to the United 
States. 
SEC. 12614. TREE PLANTING GRANT PROGRAM. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) ELIGIBLE COST.—The term ‘‘eligible cost’’ 
means, with respect to a project— 
(A) the cost of implementing the project, 
including— 
(i) planning and designing the plant-
ing activity; 
(ii) purchasing trees; and 
(iii) preparing the site and conducting 
planting, including the labor and cost asso-
ciated with the use of machinery; 
(B) the cost of maintaining and monitoring 
planted trees for a period of up to 3 years to 
ensure successful establishment of the trees; 
(C) the cost of training activities associ-
ated with the project; and 
(D) any other relevant cost, as determined 
by the Secretary. 
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(2) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘‘eligible enti-
ty’’ means— 
(A) a State agency; 
(B) a local governmental entity; 
(C) an Indian Tribe; 
(D) a nonprofit organization; and 
(E) a retail power provider. 
(3) ENERGY BURDEN.—The term ‘‘energy bur-
den’’ means the percentage of household income 
spent on home energy bills. 
(4) INDIAN TRIBE.—The term ‘‘Indian Tribe’’ 
has the meaning given the term ‘‘Indian tribe’’ in 
section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Edu-
cation Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304). 
(5) LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY.—The term 
‘‘local governmental entity’’ means any municipal 
government or county government with jurisdiction 
over local land use decisions. 
(6) NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATION.—The term 
‘‘nonprofit organization’’ means an organization 
that— 
(A) is described in section 170(h)(3) of the 
Internal Revenue Code of 1986; and 
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(B) operates in accordance with 1 or more 
of 
the 
purposes 
described 
in 
section 
170(h)(4)(A) of that Code. 
(7) PROGRAM.—The term ‘‘Program’’ means 
the grant program established under subsection 
(b)(1). 
(8) PROJECT.—The term ‘‘project’’ means a 
tree planting project carried out by an eligible entity 
using grant funds awarded under the Program. 
(9) RETAIL POWER PROVIDER.—The term ‘‘re-
tail power provider’’ means any entity authorized 
under applicable State or Federal law to generate, 
distribute, or provide retail electricity, natural gas, 
or fuel oil service. 
(10) 
SECRETARY.—The 
term 
‘‘Secretary’’ 
means the Secretary of Energy. 
(b) ESTABLISHMENT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, in coordina-
tion with the Secretary of Agriculture, acting 
through the Chief of the Forest Service, shall estab-
lish a program under which the Secretary shall 
award grants to eligible entities to conduct tree 
planting projects in accordance with this section. 
(2) TREE
PLANTING.—Subject to the avail-
ability of appropriations, in carrying out the Pro-
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gram, the Secretary shall, to the maximum extent 
practicable, award sufficient grants each year to 
plant not less than 300,000 trees each year. 
(c) APPLICATIONS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—An eligible entity that seeks 
to receive a grant under the Program shall submit 
an application to the Secretary at such time, in such 
form, and containing such information as the Sec-
retary may require, including the information de-
scribed in paragraph (2). 
(2) 
CONTENTS.—An 
application 
submitted 
under paragraph (1) shall include— 
(A) a description of how the project will re-
duce residential energy consumption; 
(B) an estimate of the expected reduction 
in residential energy consumption; 
(C) a description of the total eligible costs 
of the project and sources of funding for the 
project; 
(D) a description of the anticipated com-
munity and stakeholder engagement in the 
project; 
(E) a description of the tree species to be 
planted and how that species is suitable for the 
local environmental conditions and climate; and 
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(F) any other relevant information re-
quired by the Secretary. 
(d) PRIORITY.—In awarding grants under the Pro-
gram, the Secretary shall give priority to projects that— 
(1) provide the largest potential reduction in 
residential energy consumption for households with a 
high energy burden; 
(2) are located in a neighborhood with lower 
tree canopy cover and higher maximum daytime 
summer temperatures; 
(3) are located in a neighborhood with high 
amounts of senior citizens or children; 
(4) will collaboratively engage neighbors and 
community members that will be closely affected by 
the tree planting; and 
(5) will employ a substantial percentage of the 
workforce locally, with a focus on engaging unem-
ployed and underemployed persons. 
(e) COSTS.— 
(1) FEDERAL
SHARE.—The Secretary shall 
award a grant to an eligible entity under the Pro-
gram in an amount equal to not more than 75 per-
cent of the eligible costs of the project, as deter-
mined by the Secretary. 
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(2) MATCHING REQUIREMENT.—As a condition 
of receiving a grant under the Program, an eligible 
entity shall provide, in cash or through in-kind con-
tributions from non-Federal sources, matching funds 
in an amount equal to not less than 25 percent of 
the eligible costs of the project, as determined by the 
Secretary. 
(f) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to carry out the Pro-
gram $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 
2025. 
SEC. 12615 LABOR STANDARDS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other provi-
sion of law, for fiscal year 2021 and each fiscal year there-
after, any construction or maintenance projects, including 
installation or removal of applicable infrastructure, as-
sisted in whole or in part by funds appropriated under 
sections 1203, 1221, 1802, 1803, 1804, 1805, 2122, 
2401, 2502, 2503, 2504, 2505, 2522, 2523, 2524, 2525, 
2542, 2543, 2544, 2545, 2547, 2552, 2553, 2561, 3102, 
3103, 3104, 3105, 3106, 3107, 3109, 3110, 3111, 3112, 
3201, 4101, 4202, 5101, 5301, 5302, 5321, 5322, 5323, 
5324, 5341, 5342, 6201, 6301, 6502, 6512, 7001, 8101, 
8102, 8206, 8304, 9105, 9302, 9304, 10121, and 12401 
of this Act and including 42 U.S.C. 17011 and 42 U.S.C. 
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the service, both under the contract for the per-
formance of the service and in fact; 
(B) the service is performed outside the 
usual course of the business of the entity, con-
tractor, or subcontractor, respectively; and 
(C) the individual is customarily engaged 
in an independently established trade, occupa-
tion, profession, or business of the same nature 
as that involved in such service. 
(6) The entity shall prohibit all contractors and 
subcontractors in the performance of any construc-
tion or maintenance project from hiring employees 
through a temporary staffing agency unless the rel-
evant State workforce agency certifies that tem-
porary employees are necessary to address an acute, 
short-term labor demand. 
(7) The entity shall require all contractors, sub-
contractors, successors in interest of the entity, and 
other entities that may acquire the entity, in the 
performance or acquisition of any construction or 
maintenance project, to have and abide by an ex-
plicit neutrality policy on any issue involving the ex-
ercise by employees of the entity as described in 
paragraph (5), and of all contractors and sub-
contractors in the performance of any construction 
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