Regional Greenhouse Gas Reduction Act of 2021
Bill: S.1038 | Sponsor: Sen. Hassan, Margaret Wood (D-NH)
Policy area: Environmental Protection

Summary:
Regional Greenhouse Gas Reduction Act of 2021
This bill establishes an Office of Regional Greenhouse Gas Reduction Programs within the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a grant program to support regional greenhouse gas reduction programs, and an interagency task force.
The office must support existing regional greenhouse gas reduction programs and facilitate the establishment of new regional greenhouse gas reduction programs. Such programs use market-based tools to reduce greenhouse gases across states at the regional level.
In addition, the office must establish a program that awards grants to a state, local government, or regional consortium of such governments to take preliminary steps towards developing or participating in a regional greenhouse gas reduction program.
Finally, the EPA must establish an interagency task force to support new and existing regional programs.

To establish the Office of Regional Greenhouse Gas Reduction Programs 
  within the Environmental Protection Agency, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Regional Greenhouse Gas Reduction 
Act of 2021''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the 
        Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
            (2) Greenhouse gas.--The term ``greenhouse gas'' means 
        carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbon, 
        perfluorocarbon, and sulfur hexafluoride.
            (3) Office.--The term ``Office'' means the Office of 
        Regional Greenhouse Gas Reduction Programs established under 
        section 3(a).
            (4) Regional greenhouse gas reduction program.--The term 
        ``regional greenhouse gas reduction program'' means a program 
        that uses market-based tools to reduce greenhouse gases across 
        States at the regional level, such as--
                    (A) the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative 
                organized among, as of March 24, 2021, the States of 
                Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, 
                New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, 
                Vermont, and Virginia to cap and reduce carbon dioxide 
                emissions from the power sector; and
                    (B) the Western Climate Initiative, a regional 
                carbon trading system organized between the State of 
                California and Quebec, Canada.
            (5) State.--The term ``State'' means--
                    (A) a State;
                    (B) the District of Columbia;
                    (C) the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico;
                    (D) the United States Virgin Islands;
                    (E) Guam;
                    (F) American Samoa;
                    (G) the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 
                Islands; and
                    (H) the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands.
            (6) Unit of local government.--The term ``unit of local 
        government'' means--
                    (A) a city, town, borough, county, parish, 
                district, association, or other public body created by 
                or pursuant to State law;
                    (B) an Indian Tribe (as defined in section 4 of the 
                Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act 
                (25 U.S.C. 5304)); and
                    (C) a Tribal organization (as defined in section 4 
                of the Indian Self-Determination and Education 
                Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304)).

SEC. 3. OFFICE OF REGIONAL GREENHOUSE GAS REDUCTION PROGRAMS.

    (a) Establishment.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, there shall be established within the 
Environmental Protection Agency an office, to be known as the ``Office 
of Regional Greenhouse Gas Reduction Programs''.
    (b) Purpose.--The purpose of the Office shall be--
            (1) to support, and assist in the expansion of, existing 
        regional greenhouse gas reduction programs; and
            (2) to facilitate the establishment of new regional 
        greenhouse gas reduction programs.
    (c) Director.--The Office shall be headed by a Director, who shall 
be appointed by the Administrator--
            (1) without regard to political affiliation; and
            (2) solely on the basis of fitness to perform the duties of 
        the Director described in subsection (d).
    (d) Duties of Director.--The Director of the Office shall--
            (1) on request by a State or other relevant entity, provide 
        access to Federal data relevant to regional greenhouse gas 
        reduction programs;
            (2)(A) assist States and other relevant entities with 
        analysis and modeling of technical, economic, and public policy 
        issues relating to regional greenhouse gas reduction programs; 
        and
            (B) provide any other relevant technical support, on 
        request;
            (3) develop and share best practices based on existing 
        regional greenhouse gas reduction programs;
            (4) track and report on greenhouse gas emissions in States 
        participating in regional greenhouse gas reduction programs 
        using data collected by the Environmental Protection Agency;
            (5) designate a representative in the Office--
                    (A) to act as a liaison to regional greenhouse gas 
                reduction programs; and
                    (B) to communicate with States and other entities 
                seeking to establish regional greenhouse gas reduction 
                programs;
            (6) facilitate communication among Federal and State 
        agencies, agencies of units of local government, and 
        stakeholders to share lessons learned about greenhouse gas 
        monitoring and control programs, through methods such as 
        workshops, conferences, websites, and newsletters;
            (7) administer the grant program established under section 
        4;
            (8) coordinate with the interagency task force established 
        under section 5; and
            (9) carry out any other activity relevant to the function 
        of the Office.
    (e) Report.--The Administrator, acting through the Director of the 
Office, shall submit a biannual report to Congress that describes and 
summarizes the efforts made and technical assistance provided by the 
Office to help States improve the health and environment of communities 
in those States.
    (f) Access to Information.--On request of the Director, the head of 
each Federal agency shall provide the Director any information and data 
necessary for any analyses or reports required as part of the function 
of the Office.
    (g) No Additional Reporting Requirements.--Nothing in this section 
authorizes the Administrator or the Director of the Office to impose an 
additional reporting requirement on a State participating in a regional 
greenhouse gas reduction program.

SEC. 4. REGIONAL GREENHOUSE GAS REDUCTION PROGRAM STARTUP GRANTS.

    (a) Definition of Eligible Entity.--In this section, the term 
``eligible entity'' means--
            (1) a State;
            (2) a unit of local government; and
            (3) a regional consortium that is a partnership between or 
        among 1 or more entities described in paragraphs (1) and (2).
    (b) Establishment.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Director of the Office shall establish a 
program within the Office to provide grants to eligible entities, on a 
competitive basis, to take active preliminary steps (including 
information-gathering) towards developing or participating in a 
regional greenhouse gas reduction program.
    (c) Application.--An eligible entity shall submit to the Director 
of the Office an application to receive a grant under subsection (b) at 
such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the 
Director of the Office may require.
    (d) Minimum Grant Amount.--A grant awarded under subsection (b) 
shall be in an amount that is not less than $250,000.
    (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Director of the Office such amounts as are 
necessary to carry out this section, to remain available until 
expended.

SEC. 5. INTERAGENCY TASK FORCE.

    (a) Establishment.--The Administrator shall establish an 
interagency task force (referred to in this section as the ``task 
force'')--
            (1) to determine how best to support existing regional 
        greenhouse gas reduction programs;
            (2) to consult with States to determine how best to support 
        States and other entities that seek to develop regional 
        greenhouse gas reduction programs or expand existing regional 
        greenhouse gas reduction programs; and
            (3) to analyze existing gaps in Federal data that are 
        relevant to the formation or analysis of regional greenhouse 
        gas reduction programs.
    (b) Members.--The task force shall--
            (1) be headed by a representative from the Office; and
            (2) include representatives from--
                    (A) the Department of Energy;
                    (B) the Department of Agriculture;
                    (C) the Department of Transportation; and
                    (D) the Department of the Interior.
    (c) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date on which the task 
force is established under subsection (a), the task force shall submit 
to Congress a report that describes a plan--
            (1) to support existing regional greenhouse gas reduction 
        programs;
            (2) to support States and other entities seeking to develop 
        regional greenhouse gas reduction programs; and
            (3) that addresses Federal data gaps with respect to 
        regional greenhouse gas reduction programs.
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