I 
110TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 7101 
To establish a task force to lower energy costs for the forest product industry 
and similar manufacturing operations, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 25, 2008 
Mr. MICHAUD introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Energy and Commerce 
A BILL 
To establish a task force to lower energy costs for the forest 
product industry and similar manufacturing operations, 
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. PULP AND PAPER ENERGY SECURITY TASK 
FORCE. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The terms ‘‘Department’’ and ‘‘Secretary’’ 
mean the Department of Energy and the Secretary 
thereof, respectively. 
(2) The term ‘‘task force’’ means the task force 
established under subsection (b). 
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(b) ENERGY TASK FORCE.— 
(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall es-
tablish a task force, to be known as the Pulp and 
Paper Energy Security Task Force, to address the 
energy needs of the forest product industry and 
similar manufacturing operations. 
(2) DUTIES.—The task force shall— 
(A) identify— 
(i) the energy needs of the forest 
product industry and similar manufac-
turing operations; 
(ii) the programs and services pro-
vided by the Federal Government, State 
governments, and nongovernment organi-
zations that may serve to lower energy 
costs, including through the introduction 
or increased use of renewable fuels in pa-
permaking operations and allied industries; 
(B) assess the extent to which the pro-
grams and services identified under subpara-
graph (A)(ii) serve the needs identified under 
subparagraph (A)(i); 
(C) make recommendations to the Sec-
retary on how to more effectively serve the 
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needs identified under subparagraph (A)(i) 
through— 
(i) programs and services identified 
under subparagraph (A)(ii); 
(ii) new programs and services pro-
moted by the task force; and 
(iii) statutory changes. 
(D) make recommendations on how the 
Secretary may promote— 
(i) new programs and services that 
the task force recommends under subpara-
graph (C)(ii); and 
(ii) programs and services identified 
under subparagraph (A)(ii); 
(E) make recommendations on how the 
Secretary may inform and educate with respect 
to— 
(i) the needs identified under subpara-
graph (A)(i); 
(ii) new programs and services that 
the task force recommends under subpara-
graph (C)(ii); and 
(iii) programs and services identified 
under subparagraph (A)(ii); 
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(F) make recommendations on how the 
Secretary may more effectively work with public 
and private interests to address the energy 
needs of the forest product industry and similar 
manufacturing operations; and 
(G) make recommendations on the creation 
of a permanent advisory board that would make 
recommendations to the Secretary on how to 
address the energy needs of the forest product 
industry and similar manufacturing operations. 
(3) INTERNET WEBSITE RECOMMENDATIONS.— 
The task force shall make recommendations to the 
Secretary relating to the establishment of an Inter-
net website to be used by the Department to receive 
and dispense information and resources with respect 
to the needs identified under paragraph (2)(A)(i) 
and the programs and services identified under para-
graph (2)(A)(ii). As part of the recommendations, 
the task force shall identify the Internet sites of ap-
propriate programs, services, and organizations, both 
public and private, to which the Internet website 
should link. 
(4) EDUCATION
PROGRAMS.—The task force 
shall make recommendations to the Secretary relat-
ing to developing additional education materials and 
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programs with respect to the needs identified under 
paragraph (2)(A)(i). 
(5) EXISTING
MATERIALS-.—The task force 
shall organize and distribute existing materials that 
inform and educate with respect to the needs identi-
fied under paragraph (2)(A)(i) and the programs 
and services identified under paragraph (2)(A)(ii). 
(6) COORDINATION WITH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE 
SECTOR.—In carrying out its responsibilities under 
this section, the task force shall coordinate with, and 
may accept materials and assistance as it determines 
appropriate from— 
(A) any subordinate officer of the Sec-
retary; 
(B) other Federal agencies, their officers, 
or employees; and 
(C) any other organization, entity, or per-
son not described in subparagraph (A) or (B). 
(7) CHAIR AND VICE-CHAIR.—The task force 
shall have— 
(A) a Chair, appointed by the Secretary; 
and 
(B) a Vice-Chair, appointed by the Sec-
retary, in consultation with appropriate non-
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governmental organizations, entities, or per-
sons. 
(8) MEMBERS.— 
(A) CHAIR AND VICE-CHAIR.—The Chair 
and the Vice-Chair shall serve as members of 
the task force. 
(B) ADDITIONAL MEMBERS.— 
(i) IN GENERAL.—The task force shall 
have additional members, each of whom 
shall be appointed by the Chair, with the 
approval of the Secretary. 
(ii) NUMBER
OF
MEMBERS.—The 
number of additional members shall be de-
termined by the Chair, in consultation with 
the Secretary, except that— 
(I) the additional members shall 
include, for each of the groups speci-
fied in subparagraph (C), at least 1 
member appointed from within that 
group; and 
(II) the number of additional 
members shall not exceed 13. 
(C) GROUPS REPRESENTED.—The groups 
specified in this subparagraph are— 
(i) subject matter experts; 
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(ii) labor unions representing employ-
ees of the forest product industry and 
similar manufacturing operations; 
(iii) vendors of energy technologies to 
the forest product industry and similar 
manufacturing operations; 
(iv) academics with expertise in the 
use of energy technologies within the forest 
product industry and similar manufac-
turing operations; 
(v) the forest product industry and 
similar manufacturing operations trade as-
sociations; 
(vi) Federal, State, or local agencies 
engaged in energy improvements and cost 
reductions at within the forest product in-
dustry and similar manufacturing oper-
ations. 
(9) MEETINGS.— 
(A) FREQUENCY.—The task force shall 
meet at least 2 times per year, and more fre-
quently if necessary to perform its duties. 
(B) QUORUM.—A majority of the members 
of the task force shall constitute a quorum. 
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(C) LOCATION.—The Secretary shall des-
ignate, and make available to the task force, a 
location at a facility under the control of the 
Secretary for use by the task force for its meet-
ings. 
(D) MINUTES.— 
(i) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 
days after each meeting, the task force 
shall publish the minutes of the meeting 
and shall submit to Secretary any findings 
or recommendations approved at the meet-
ing. 
(ii) SUBMISSION TO CONGRESS.—Not 
later than 60 days after the date that the 
Secretary receives minutes under clause (i) 
the Secretary shall submit to the Com-
mittee on Energy and Natural Resources 
and the Committee on Small Business and 
Entrepreneurship of the Senate and the 
Committee on Energy and Commerce and 
the Committee on Small Business of the 
House of Representatives such minutes, to-
gether with any comments the Secretary 
considers appropriate. 
(E) FINDINGS.— 
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(i) IN GENERAL.—Not later than the 
date that the task force terminates under 
paragraph (13) the task force shall submit 
to the Secretary a final report on any find-
ings and recommendations of the task 
force approved at a meeting of the task 
force. 
(ii) SUBMISSION TO CONGRESS.—Not 
later than 90 days after the date that the 
Administrator receives the report under 
clause (i), the Secretary shall submit to the 
Committee on Energy and Natural Re-
sources and the Committee on Small Busi-
ness and Entrepreneurship of the Senate 
and the Committee on Energy and Com-
merce and the Committee on Small Busi-
ness of the House of Representatives the 
full text of the report submitted under 
clause (i), together with any comments the 
Secretary considers appropriate. 
(10) PERSONNEL MATTERS.— 
(A) COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS.—Each 
member of the task force shall serve without 
pay for their service on the task force. 
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(B) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—Each member of 
the task force shall receive travel expenses, in-
cluding per diem in lieu of subsistence, in ac-
cordance with applicable provisions under sub-
chapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States 
Code. 
(C) DETAIL OF DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY 
EMPLOYEES.—The Secretary may detail, with-
out reimbursement, any of the personnel of the 
Department to the task force to assist it in car-
rying out its duties. Such a detail shall be with-
out interruption or loss of civil status or privi-
lege. 
(D) DEPARTMENT
OF
ENERGY
SUPPORT 
OF THE TASK FORCE.—Upon the request of the 
task force, the Secretary shall provide to the 
task force the administrative support services 
that the Secretary and the Chair jointly deter-
mine to be necessary for the task force to carry 
out its duties. 
(11) FEDERAL
ADVISORY
COMMITTEE
ACT.— 
The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. 
App.) shall not apply to the task force. 
(12) STARTUP.—The initial appointment of the 
members of the task force shall be completed not 
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later than 90 days after the date of enactment of 
this section and the first meeting of the task force 
shall be not later than 180 days after the date of en-
actment of this section. 
(13) TERMINATION.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in 
subparagraph (B), the task force shall termi-
nate at the end of fiscal year 2012. 
(B) EXCEPTION.—If, as of the termination 
date under subparagraph (A), the task force 
has not complied with paragraph (9)(D) with 
respect to 1 or more meetings, then the task 
force shall continue after the termination date 
for the sole purpose of achieving compliance 
with paragraph (9)(D) with respect to those 
meetings. 
(14) AUTHORIZATION OF FUNDING.—There are 
authorized to be appropriated to carry out this sec-
tion $200,000 for each of fiscal years 2009 through 
2012. 
Æ 
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