Department of Veterans Affairs Energy Sustainability Act of 2009

Bill: 111-hr-292
Sponsor: Rep. Buyer, Steve [R-IN-4]
Introduced: 2009-01-08 in the House
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Air quality
Alternative and renewable resources
Cemeteries and funerals
Department of Veterans Affairs
Energy efficiency and conservation
Executive agency funding and structure
Government buildings, facilities, and property
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Health facilities and institutions
Housing for the elderly and disabled
Motor vehicles
Public contracts and procurement
Veterans' loans, housing, homeless programs
Veterans' medical care
Veterans' pensions and compensation
Water use and supply

Summary:
action_date: 2009-01-08
text: 
Department of Veterans Affairs Energy Sustainability Act of 2009 - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to: (1) implement in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) an energy sustainability program to minimize energy consumption and encourage the use of alternative energy sources; (2) establish and maintain a database to track and report on VA energy and water expenditures; (3) complete an audit of VA energy usage during FY2010; (4) ensure VA compliance with an Executive Order and VA Directive concerning energy efficiency goals and objectives; (5) report to Congress on the use of funds for the installation of alternative fueling stations at 35 VA medical facility campuses; (6) submit to Congress a plan for increasing the use of energy-efficient and renewable energy technologies in VA facilities and operations; (7) provide for the installation of individual electric sub-metering equipment at VA facilities; (8) ensure that energy-efficient products meeting VA requirements are purchased whenever the VA purchases items that consume electricity; and (9) conduct a study on water and fuel consumption by the National Cemetery Administration and ways to reduce such consumption.
 
Establishes in the VA: (1) an Office of Energy Management; and (2) the Advisory Committee on Energy Management and Sustainability.
 
Authorizes an increase in the dollar limit of VA grants for: (1) adaptive housing to encourage the use of high-efficiency systems and products or other energy-use reduction items; and (2) adaptive vehicles to encourage the purchase of alternative fuel vehicles.
 
Directs the Secretary and the Secretary of Energy to enter into a memorandum of understanding to improve and facilitate the use of expertise of the national laboratories to evaluate energy- and water-efficient technologies for use by the VA. 
 
Authorizes the Secretary to carry out a pilot program to sell economic incentives that reduce the emission of air pollutants attributable to a VA facility.
 
Directs the Secretary or any other VA official required by law to submit a report to Congress to submit a copy of the report in an electronic format.
 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-01-08
text: Referred to House Science and Technology
action_date: 2009-01-08
text: Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Science and Technology, 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: 2009-01-08
text: Referred to House Veterans' Affairs
action_date: 2009-01-08
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Environment.
action_date: 2009-01-08
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E44)
action_date: 2009-01-08
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-01-08
text: Introduced in House