Director reports directly to the Assistant Secretary for 
Management. 
‘‘(c) RESPONSIBILITIES.—The Director is responsible 
for— 
‘‘(1) the formulation of policy and planning re-
lated to, and the implementation of, energy manage-
ment programs of the Department; and 
‘‘(2) the monitoring of Department compliance 
with— 
‘‘(A) Executive Orders, Department Direc-
tives, and statutory requirements relating to en-
ergy management; 
‘‘(B) Department energy audits; and 
‘‘(C) reporting requirements to Congress 
relating to the Department energy policies; and 
‘‘(3) serving as the chair of the Advisory Com-
mittee on Energy Management and Sustainability 
under section 546 of this title. 
‘‘(d) STAFF AND SUPPORT.—The Office shall employ 
a sufficient number of personnel as are necessary to carry 
out the responsibilities of the Office. The Secretary shall 
ensure that the Office is furnished sufficient resources in 
addition to personnel to enable the Office to carry out its 
responsibilities in a timely manner.’’. 
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(b) INCREASE IN MAXIMUM NUMBER OF DEPUTY 
ASSISTANT SECRETARIES.—Section 308(d)(1) of such 
title is amended by striking ‘‘not exceeding 19’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘not exceeding 20’’. 
(c) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
at the beginning of such chapter is amended by adding 
at the end the following new item: 
‘‘323. Office of Energy Management.’’. 
SEC. 6. ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON ENERGY MANAGEMENT 
AND SUSTAINABILITY. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Chapter 5 of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new section: 
‘‘§ 547. Advisory Committee on Energy Management 
and Sustainability 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is in the Department 
the Advisory Committee on Energy Management and Sus-
tainability (hereinafter in this section referred to as the 
‘Committee’). The chair of the Committee is the Director 
of the Office of Energy Management under section 321 
of this title. 
‘‘(b) MEMBERSHIP.—(1) The Committee shall consist 
of members appointed by the Secretary from the general 
public, including— 
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‘‘(A) individuals who are recognized authorities 
in fields pertinent to energy management and sus-
tainability; and 
‘‘(B) representatives of industries relating to 
energy management and sustainability. 
‘‘(2) The Committee shall include, as ex officio mem-
bers, the following: 
‘‘(A) The Under Secretary for Health, or the 
Under Secretary’s designee. 
‘‘(B) The Under Secretary for Benefits, or the 
Under Secretary’s designee. 
‘‘(C) The Under Secretary for Memorial Af-
fairs, or the Under Secretary’s designee 
‘‘(D) The Assistant Secretary for Management, 
or the Assistant Secretary’s designee. 
‘‘(E) The Chief Information Officer, or the 
Chief Information Officer’s designee. 
‘‘(F) Such other officers of the Department as 
the Secretary considers appropriate. 
‘‘(3) The Secretary shall ensure that the members of 
the Committee have expertise in the areas covered by the 
memorandum of understanding entitled ‘Federal Leader-
ship in High Performance and Sustainable Buildings’ en-
tered into on March 6, 2006, as in effect on the date of 
the enactment of this section, namely— 
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‘‘(A) employment of integrated design prin-
ciples; 
‘‘(B) optimization of energy performance; 
‘‘(C) protection and conservation of water; 
‘‘(D) enhancement of indoor environmental 
quality; and 
‘‘(E) reduction of the environmental impact of 
materials. 
‘‘(4) The Secretary shall determine the number, 
terms of service, and pay and allowances of members of 
the Committee appointed by the Secretary, except that a 
term of service of any such member may not exceed three 
years. The Secretary may reappoint any such member for 
additional terms of service. 
‘‘(c) RESPONSIBILITIES.—(1) The Committee shall 
provide advice, coordination, and recommendations related 
to the implementation of the sustainability construction 
projects for the Department of Veterans Affairs. 
‘‘(d) CONSULTATION.—(1) The Secretary shall, on a 
regular basis, consult with and seek the advice of the Com-
mittee with respect to the implementation of energy and 
sustainability programs at the Department. 
‘‘(2) In providing advice to the Secretary under this 
subsection, the Committee shall— 
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‘‘(A) assemble and review information relating 
to the needs of the Department as part of a whole 
sustainability and energy savings program; 
‘‘(B) provide an assessment of the effectiveness 
of the policies, organizational structures, and serv-
ices of the Department’s sustainability program; and 
‘‘(C) provide on-going advice on the most ap-
propriate means of responding to additional energy 
and sustainability requirements as may be imposed 
upon the Department through additional Acts of 
Congress, or through Presidential Executive Orders 
for each of the Department’s business lines. 
‘‘(e) ANNUAL REPORTS.—(1) Not later than Decem-
ber 31 of each year, the Committee shall submit to the 
Secretary an electronic report on the programs and activi-
ties of the Department relating to sustainability programs 
and energy efficiency programs developed by the Depart-
ment. Each such report shall include— 
‘‘(A) an assessment of the needs of each of the 
Department’s business lines to enhance sustain-
ability programs within each administration; 
‘‘(B) a review of the programs and activities of 
the Department designed to meet such needs; and 
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‘‘(C) such recommendations (including rec-
ommendations for administrative and legislative ac-
tion) as the Committee considers appropriate. 
‘‘(2) Not later than 90 days after receipt of a report 
under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall transmit elec-
tronically to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the 
Senate and House of Representatives a copy of the report, 
together with any comments and recommendations con-
cerning the report that the Secretary considers appro-
priate. 
‘‘(3) The Committee may also submit to the Sec-
retary such other reports and recommendations as the 
Committee considers appropriate. 
‘‘(4) The Secretary shall submit with each annual re-
port submitted to the Congress pursuant to section 529 
of this title a summary of all reports and recommendations 
of the Committee submitted to the Secretary since the pre-
vious annual report of the Secretary submitted pursuant 
to that section. 
‘‘(f) APPLICABILITY OF FEDERAL ADVISORY COM-
MITTEE ACT.—(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), 
the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 
U.S.C. App.) shall apply to the activities of the Committee 
under this section. 
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