Western Hemisphere Energy Compact Act of 2008

Bill: 110-hr-7183
Sponsor: Rep. Engel, Eliot L. [D-NY-17]
Introduced: 2008-09-27 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Advanced technology and technological innovations
Africa
Agricultural conservation and pollution
Agricultural education
Air quality
Alternative and renewable resources
Asia
Brazil
Canada
China
Climate change and greenhouse gases
Competitiveness, trade promotion, trade deficits
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Energy efficiency and conservation
Energy research
Energy storage, supplies, demand
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Environmental technology
Europe
European Union
Food supply, safety, and labeling
Foreign aid and international relief
Free trade and trade barriers
Government studies and investigations
India
International organizations and cooperation
Japan
Latin America
Mexico
Multilateral development programs
Navigation, waterways, harbors
Oil and gas
Pipelines
Public-private cooperation
Railroads
Research administration and funding
South Africa
Technology assessment
U.S. and foreign investments
Western Hemisphere

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-27
text: 
Western Hemisphere Energy Compact Act of 2008 - Directs the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretary of Energy, to seek to establish a regional-based ministerial forum to be known as the Western Hemisphere Energy Cooperation Forum: (1) for the cooperation of Western Hemisphere on energy issues; (2) to lessen dependence on oil imports without reducing food availability; (3) to ensure that energy contributes to the economic, social, and environmental enhancement of the countries in the Western Hemisphere; and (4) to permit participating countries to cooperatively address broad challenges posed to the energy supply of the Western Hemisphere.
 
Directs the U.S. to seek to implement, in cooperation with Energy Forum countries: (1) an energy crisis initiative; (2) an energy sustainability initiative; (3) an energy for development initiative; and (4) biofuels studies.
 
Provides for the establishment of a Western Hemisphere Energy Industry Group to: (1) increase public-private partnerships; (2) foster private investment; and (3) enable countries in the Western Hemisphere to devise energy agendas compatible with industry capacity and cognizant of industry goals.
 
Provides for: (1) the establishment of an Oil and Natural Gas Working Group; (2) a U.S.-Brazil biofuels partnership; (3) biofuels feasibility studies; (4) regional and hemispheric carbon trading mechanisms; (5) the establishment of a Western Hemisphere energy crisis response mechanism; (6) seeking to increase U.S. foreign assistance programming in renewable energy; and (7) energy public diplomacy.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-27
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2008-09-27
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2008-09-27
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2008-09-27
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-09-27
text: Introduced in House