IV
105TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. CON. RES. 280
To provide for the development and implementation of a comprehensive energy
conservation plan for the United States Congress.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MAY 21, 1998
Mr. GUTIERREZ (for himself, Mr. PALLONE, Mr. EVANS, Ms. FURSE, Mr.
OLVER, Mr. SKAGGS, Mrs. MALONEY of New York, Mr. ABERCROMBIE,
Mr. BLUMENAUER, Ms. STABENOW, Mr. UNDERWOOD, Mr. WAXMAN,
and Mr. LIPINSKI) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which
was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
To provide for the development and implementation of a
comprehensive energy conservation plan for the United
States Congress.
Whereas Congress passed the National Energy Conservation
Policy Act (NECPA) in 1978 to provide major policy
guidance to Federal agencies to improve energy manage-
ment in their facilities and operations;
Whereas Congress amended NECPA in 1988 through the
Federal Energy Management Improvement Act, and
required each Federal agency to achieve a 10 percent re-
duction in energy consumption in its Federal buildings by
fiscal year 1995, when measured against a fiscal year
1985 baseline on a Btu-per-gross-square-foot basis,
•HCON 280 IH
Whereas the Federal Energy Management Improvement Act
directed the Department of Energy to establish life cycle
costing methods and coordinate Federal conservation ac-
tivities through the Interagency Energy Management
Task Force;
Whereas Congress amended NECPA in 1992 through the
Energy Policy Act (EPACT), which contains provisions
regarding energy management requirements, life cycle
cost methods and procedures, budget treatment for en-
ergy conservation measures, incentives for Federal facil-
ity energy managers, reporting requirements, new tech-
nology demonstrations and agency surveys of energy sav-
ing potential, and required a minimum 20 percent energy
reduction in Btu-per-gross-square-foot energy costs by
fiscal year 2000 as compared with energy consumption in
fiscal year 1985;
Whereas President Clinton issued Executive Order 12902 on
March 8, 1994, which expanded the scope of Federal en-
ergy management and established a 30 percent reduction
goal in energy costs for Federal buildings and a 20 per-
cent goal for industrial facilities by 2005 as compared to
1985 consumption levels on a Btu-per-gross-square foot
basis;
Whereas Congress passed the Congressional Accountability
Act in 1995 to ensure that Congress and its Members
comply with the laws Congress mandates for our Nation;
Whereas Congress does not comply with the energy conserva-
tion standards it has established for Federal agencies;
Whereas Congress expended $32,733,024 in 1997 on energy
costs and has witnessed greater energy expenditures each
year during the past 7 years;
•HCON 280 IH
Whereas the Architect of the Capitol should be commended
for the completion of several energy conservation projects
on the congressional campus during the past 5 years that
have saved taxpayers significant resources;
Whereas a number of the Architect of the Capitol’s projects
to conserve energy have been delayed and frustrated be-
cause Congress has not appropriated adequate resources
in a timely manner for crucial projects to be completed;
Whereas Congress should set an example for the Nation by
implementing a comprehensive, efficient, and cost-effec-
tive long-term energy conservation program for all build-
ings and facilities under its administration; and
Whereas Congress should comply with the energy conserva-
tion standards it has established for Federal agencies,
save taxpayers’ dollars, and reduce its contribution to air
pollution and the disbursement of greenhouse gases
through energy conservation: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring), That the Architect of the Capitol—
(1) shall develop and implement a cost-effective
energy conservation strategy for all facilities cur-
rently administered by Congress to achieve a net re-
duction of 20 percent in energy consumption on the
congressional campus compared to fiscal year 1991
consumption levels on a Btu-per-gross-square-foot
basis not later than 7 years after the adoption of
this resolution;