I 
113TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 5803 
To require the Secretary of the Interior to assemble a team of technical, 
policy, and financial experts to address the energy needs of the insular 
areas of the United States and the Freely Associated States through 
the development of energy action plans aimed at promoting access to 
affordable, reliable energy, including increasing use of indigenous clean- 
energy resources, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
DECEMBER 8, 2014 
Mrs. CHRISTENSEN (for herself and Mr. SABLAN) introduced the following 
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 
A BILL 
To require the Secretary of the Interior to assemble a team 
of technical, policy, and financial experts to address the 
energy needs of the insular areas of the United States 
and the Freely Associated States through the develop-
ment of energy action plans aimed at promoting access 
to affordable, reliable energy, including increasing use 
of indigenous clean-energy resources, and for other pur-
poses. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:12 Dec 09, 2014
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5803.IH
H5803
SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
SECTION 1. STUDY OF ELECTRIC RATES IN THE INSULAR 
AREAS. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) COMPREHENSIVE ENERGY PLAN.—The term 
‘‘comprehensive energy plan’’ means a comprehen-
sive energy plan prepared and updated under sub-
sections (c) and (e) of section 604 of the Act entitled 
‘‘An Act to authorize appropriations for certain in-
sular areas of the United States, and for other pur-
poses’’, approved December 24, 1980 (48 U.S.C. 
1492). 
(2) ENERGY ACTION PLAN.—The term ‘‘energy 
action plan’’ means the plan required by subsection 
(d). 
(3) FREELY ASSOCIATED STATES.—The term 
‘‘Freely Associated States’’ means the Federated 
States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall 
Islands, and the Republic of Palau. 
(4) INSULAR AREAS.—The term ‘‘insular areas’’ 
means American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the 
Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, Guam, and 
the Virgin Islands. 
(5) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of the Interior. 
(6) TEAM.—The term ‘‘team’’ means the team 
established by the Secretary under subsection (b). 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:12 Dec 09, 2014
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5803.IH
H5803
SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(b) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 180 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall, 
within the Empowering Insular Communities activity, es-
tablish a team of technical, policy, and financial experts— 
(1) to develop an energy action plan addressing 
the energy needs of each of the insular areas and 
Freely Associated States; and 
(2) to assist each of the insular areas and Free-
ly Associated States in implementing such plan. 
(c) PARTICIPATION OF REGIONAL UTILITY ORGANI-
ZATIONS.—In establishing the team, the Secretary shall 
consider including regional utility organizations. 
(d) ENERGY ACTION PLAN.—In accordance with sub-
section (b), the energy action plan shall include— 
(1) recommendations, based on the comprehen-
sive energy plan where applicable, to— 
(A) reduce reliance and expenditures on 
fuel shipped to the insular areas and Freely As-
sociated States from ports outside the United 
States; 
(B) develop and utilize domestic fuel en-
ergy sources; and 
(C) improve performance of energy infra-
structure and overall energy efficiency; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:12 Dec 09, 2014
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5803.IH
H5803
SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(2) a schedule for implementation of such rec-
ommendations and identification and prioritization 
of specific projects; 
(3) a financial and engineering plan for imple-
menting and sustaining projects; and 
(4) benchmarks for measuring progress toward 
implementation. 
(e) REPORTS TO SECRETARY.—Not later than 1 year 
after the date on which the Secretary establishes the team 
and annually thereafter, the team shall submit to the Sec-
retary a report detailing progress made in fulfilling its 
charge and in implementing the energy action plan. 
(f) ANNUAL REPORTS
TO CONGRESS.—Not later 
than 30 days after the date on which the Secretary re-
ceives a report submitted by the team under subsection 
(e), the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate commit-
tees of Congress a summary of the report of the team. 
(g) APPROVAL OF SECRETARY REQUIRED.—The en-
ergy action plan shall not be implemented until the Sec-
retary approves the energy action plan. 
SEC. 2. AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSOLIDATED NATURAL 
RESOURCES ACT. 
Section 6 of Public Law 94–241 (90 Stat. 263; 122 
Stat. 854) is amended— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:12 Dec 09, 2014
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5803.IH
H5803
SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(1) in subsection (a)(2), by striking ‘‘December 
31, 2014, except as provided in subsections (b) and 
(d)’’ and inserting ‘‘December 31, 2019’’; and 
(2) in subsection (d)— 
(A) in the third sentence of paragraph (2), 
by striking ‘‘not to extend beyond December 31, 
2014, unless extended pursuant to paragraph 5 
of this subsection’’ and inserting ‘‘ending on 
December 31, 2019’’; 
(B) by striking paragraph (5); and 
(C) by redesignating paragraph (6) as 
paragraph (5). 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:12 Dec 09, 2014
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H5803.IH
H5803
SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS