I 
110TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2229 
To establish a joint energy cooperation program within the Department of 
Energy to fund eligible ventures between United States and Israeli busi-
nesses and academic persons in the national interest, and for other 
purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 9, 2007 
Mr. GORDON of Tennessee introduced the following bill; which was referred 
to the Committee on Science and Technology 
A BILL 
To establish a joint energy cooperation program within the 
Department of Energy to fund eligible ventures between 
United States and Israeli businesses and academic per-
sons in the national interest, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘United States-Israel 
Energy Cooperation Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds that— 
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(1) it is in the highest national security inter-
ests of the United States to develop alternative re-
newable energy sources; 
(2) the State of Israel is a steadfast ally of the 
United States; 
(3) the special relationship between the United 
States and Israel is manifested in a variety of coop-
erative scientific research and development pro-
grams, such as— 
(A) the United States-Israel Binational 
Science Foundation (BSF); and 
(B) the United States-Israel Binational In-
dustrial Research and Development Foundation 
(BIRD); 
(4) those programs have made possible many 
scientific, technological, and commercial break-
throughs in the fields of life sciences, medicine, bio-
engineering, agriculture, biotechnology, communica-
tions, and others; 
(5) on February 1, 1996, the Secretary of En-
ergy and the Israeli Minister of Energy and Infra-
structure signed an agreement to establish a frame-
work for collaboration between the United States 
and Israel in energy research and development ac-
tivities; 
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(6) Israeli scientists and engineers are at the 
forefront of research and development in the field of 
alternative renewable energy sources; and 
(7) enhanced cooperation between the United 
States and Israel for the purpose of research and de-
velopment of alternative renewable energy sources 
would be in the national interests of both countries. 
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) BIRD.—The term ‘‘BIRD’’ means the 
United States-Israel Binational Industrial Research 
and Development Foundation. 
(2) BSF.—The term ‘‘BSF’’ means the United 
States-Israel Binational Science Foundation. 
(3) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Energy, acting through the Assist-
ant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable 
Energy. 
SEC. 4. GRANT PROGRAM. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—In implementing the Agree-
ment entitled the ‘‘Agreement between the Department of 
Energy of the United States of America and the Ministry 
of Energy and Infrastructure of Israel Concerning Energy 
Cooperation’’, dated February 1, 1996, the Secretary shall 
establish a grant program to support research, develop-
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ment, and commercialization of alternative renewable en-
ergy sources. 
(b) TYPES OF ENERGY.—In carrying out subsection 
(a), the Secretary may make grants to promote— 
(1) solar energy; 
(2) biomass energy; 
(3) energy efficiency; 
(4) wind energy; 
(5) fossil energy; and 
(6) other types of energy, as determined by the 
Secretary. 
(c) ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS.—An applicant shall be el-
igible to receive a grant under this section if the project 
of the applicant— 
(1)(A) addresses a requirement in the areas of 
alternative energy, improved energy efficiency, or re-
newable energy sources determined by the Secretary 
and applies for the grant in accordance with proce-
dures established under this section; or 
(B) is a joint venture between— 
(i)(I) a for-profit business entity, academic 
institution, National Laboratory (as defined in 
section 2 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005), or 
nonprofit entity in the United States; and 
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(II) a for-profit business entity, academic 
institution, or nonprofit entity in Israel; or 
(ii)(I) the Government of the United 
States; and 
(II) the Government of Israel; and 
(2) meets any other qualifications that the Sec-
retary may require. 
(d) APPLICATIONS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—To be eligible to receive a 
grant under this section, an applicant shall submit 
an application for the grant to— 
(A) the Secretary, in accordance with pro-
cedures established by the Secretary; or 
(B) the BIRD or BSF, in accordance with 
procedures established by the respective entity. 
(2) USE OF BIRD AND BSF.— 
(A) ALLOCATION
FOR
BIRD
AND
BSF.— 
The Secretary shall use not less than 50 per-
cent of the funds that are provided to make 
grants under this section for a fiscal year to 
make grants through the BIRD and BSF. 
(B) ALLOCATION
BETWEEN
BIRD
AND 
BSF.—The Secretary shall determine the man-
ner in which funds made available for a fiscal 
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year under this paragraph are allocated be-
tween the BIRD and BSF. 
(e) ADVISORY BOARD.— 
(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall es-
tablish an advisory board to— 
(A) monitor how grants are awarded under 
this section; and 
(B) provide to the Secretary periodic per-
formance reviews of actions taken to carry out 
this section. 
(2) COMPOSITION.—The advisory board shall be 
composed of— 
(A) a representative of the Government of 
the United States, appointed by the Secretary; 
and 
(B) a representative of the Government of 
Israel, appointed by the Government of Israel. 
(f) REPAYMENT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (2), 
the Secretary may require a recipient of a grant 
under this section to repay to the Secretary, the 
BIRD, or the BSF, as determined by the Secretary, 
an amount equal to— 
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(A) the amount of the grant, including in-
terest at a rate determined by the Secretary; 
and 
(B) such charges for the administration of 
the grant as the Secretary determines appro-
priate. 
(2) LIMITATION.—In carrying out paragraph 
(1), the Secretary may not require a grant recipient 
to repay more than 150 percent of the amount of 
the grant, adjusted in accordance with the Consumer 
Price Index for all-urban consumers, United States 
city average, as published by the Bureau of Labor 
Statistics. 
(g) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
$20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2014. 
Æ 
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