A bill to require the evaluation and consolidation of duplicative green building programs within the Department of Energy.

Bill: 114-s-939
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Flake, Jeff [R-AZ]
Introduced: 2015-04-14
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Building construction

Climate change and greenhouse gases

Congressional oversight

Department of Energy

Energy assistance for the poor and aged

Energy efficiency and conservation

Environmental technology

Executive agency funding and structure

Government information and archives

Government lending and loan guarantees

Government studies and investigations

Income tax credits

Performance measurement

Public transit

Residential rehabilitation and home repair

Solid waste and recycling
Latest action: action_date: 2015-04-30
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held.

Summaries:
action_date: 2015-04-14
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p>This bill requires the Department of Energy (DOE) to report on and make public the outcomes of specified green building programs administered by DOE and listed in the Government Accountability Office's &quot;2012 Annual Report: Opportunities to Reduce Duplication, Overlap and Fragmentation, Achieve Savings, and Enhance Revenue.&quot;</p> <p>DOE must conduct an analysis of whether any of the programs should be eliminated or consolidated and report on methods to improve the programs.</p> <p>By January 1, 2016, DOE must identify which programs were specifically authorized by Congress and which are carried out solely under DOE's discretionary authority. </p>

tv_txt: II 114th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 939 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 14, 2015 Mr. Flake (for himself and Mr. Booker ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources A BILL To require the evaluation and consolidation of duplicative green building programs within the Department of Energy.

1. Evaluation and consolidation of duplicative green building programs within Department of Energy (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Administrative expenses (A) In general The term administrative expenses has the meaning given the term by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget under section 504(b)(2) of the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010 ( 31 U.S.C. 1105 note; Public Law 111–85 ). (B) Inclusions The term administrative expenses includes, with respect to an agency— (i) costs incurred by— (I) the agency; or (II) any grantee, subgrantee, or other recipient of funds from a grant program or other program administered by the agency; and (ii) expenses relating to personnel salaries and benefits, property management, travel, program management, promotion, reviews and audits, case management, and communication regarding, promotion of, and outreach for programs and program activities administered by the agency. (2) Applicable program The term applicable program means any program that is— (A) listed in Table 9 (pages 348–350) of the report of the Government Accountability Office entitled 2012 Annual Report: Opportunities to Reduce Duplication, Overlap and Fragmentation, Achieve Savings, and Enhance Revenue ; and (B) administered by the Secretary. (3) Secretary The term Secretary means the Secretary of Energy. (4) Service (A) In general Subject to subparagraph (B), the term service has the meaning given the term by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget. (B) Requirements For purposes of subparagraph (A), the term service shall be limited to activities, assistance, or other aid that provides a direct benefit to a recipient, such as— (i) the provision of technical assistance; (ii) assistance for housing or tuition; or (iii) financial support (including grants, loans, tax credits, and tax deductions). (b) Report (1) In general Not later than October 1, 2015, the Secretary shall submit to Congress and make available on the public Internet website of the Department of Energy a report that describes the outcomes of all applicable programs. (2) Requirements In preparing the report under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall— (A) determine the total administrative expenses of each applicable program; (B) determine the expenditures for services for each applicable program; (C) estimate the number of— (i) clients served by each applicable program; and (ii) beneficiaries who received services under the applicable program (if applicable); (D) estimate— (i) the number of full-time employees who administer each applicable program; and (ii) the number of full-time equivalents (the salary of whom is paid in part or full by the Federal Government through a grant or contract, a subaward of a grant or contract, a cooperative agreement, or another form of financial award or assistance) who assist in administering the applicable program; (E) describe the type of services each applicable program provides, such as grants, technical assistance, loans, tax credits, or tax deductions; (F) describe the type of recipient who benefits from the services provided under the applicable program, such as individual property owners or renters, local governments, businesses, nonprofit organizations, or State governments; and (G) identify whether written program goals are available for each applicable program. (c) Recommendations Not later than January 1, 2016, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report that includes— (1) an analysis of whether any applicable program should be eliminated or consolidated, including any legislative changes that would be necessary to eliminate or consolidate applicable programs; and (2) methods to improve the applicable programs by establishing program goals or increasing collaboration to reduce the overlap and duplication identified in— (A) the 2011 report of the Government Accountability Office entitled Federal Initiatives for the NonFederal Sector Could Benefit from More Interagency Collaboration ; and (B) the report of the Government Accountability Office entitled 2012 Annual Report: Opportunities to Reduce Duplication, Overlap and Fragmentation, Achieve Savings, and Enhance Revenue . (d) Analyses Not later than January 1, 2016, the Secretary shall identify— (1) which applicable programs were specifically authorized by Congress; and (2) which applicable programs are carried out solely under the discretionary authority of the Secretary.