zli12321/Bills huggingface dataset:
Native American $1 Coin Act - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue $1 coins in commemoration of Native Americans and the important contributions made by Indian tribes and individual Native Americans to the development of the United States and the history of the United States. Requires the issuance of such coins during each year to be emblematic of one important Native American or Native American contribution.

Date: 2007-02-14
Topic: Energy (General)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Model T Ford Automobile Commemorative Coin Act - Instructs the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue, in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Model T Ford Automobile, up to 500,000 $1 coins emblematic of the Model T Ford and the assembly line. Subjects coin sales to a surcharge of $10 per coin. Requires specified distributions of surcharges to: (1) the Automobile National Heritage Area Partnership Inc. for creating an endowment for national Model T educational programs; and (2) the Edison Institute (also known as "The Henry Ford"), in Dearborn, Michigan, a National Historic Landmark, for creating an endowment for educational programs associated with the Model T Ford Automobile.

Date: 2007-02-14
Topic: Energy (General)
Subject: Commemorations
Makes January 23, 2002, the effective date of the modification of treatment for retirement annuity purposes of part-time service performed before April 7, 1986, by certain health-care professionals of the Veterans Health Administration pursuant to the Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Programs Enhancement Act of 2001.

Date: 2007-02-15
Topic: Energy (General)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Prohibits the Secretary from making a loan or loans to any entity in excess of $1 billion in the aggregate over a five-year period unless the loan exceeding the limit is approved by joint resolution no later than six months after notice is provided to Congress.

Date: 2007-02-16
Topic: Energy (General)
Subject: Transportation and public works
United States-Israel Energy Cooperation Act - (Sec. 3) Instructs the Secretary of Energy, in implementing the "Agreement between the Department of Energy of the United States of America and the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure of Israel Concerning Energy Cooperation," to establish a grant program to support research, development, and commercialization of renewable energy or energy efficiency. Authorizes grants to promote: (1) solar energy; (2) biomass energy; (3) energy efficiency; (4) wind energy; (5) geothermal energy; (6) wave and tidal energy; and (7) advanced battery technology. Makes eligible for a grant projects that address improved energy efficiency or renewable energy sources, or joint ventures between either: (1) a for-profit business entity, academic institution, National Laboratory, or nonprofit entity in the United States, and one in Israel; or (3) the federal government and the government of Israel. Directs the Secretary to establish an advisory board to: (1) monitor the grants award process; and (2) provide periodic performance reviews.Authorizes the Secretary to accept and use funds contributed by any person, government entity, or organization to implement this Act. Requires a grant recipient, upon project completion, to report to the Secretary: (1) the method by which the recipient used the grant funds; and (2) an evaluation of the success of each project. Declares that grants shall be awarded only for projects considered to be unclassified by both the United States and Israel. (Sec. 4) Sunsets the grant program and the advisory committee seven years after enactment of this Act. (Sec. 5) Requires the Secretary to use specified funds authorized for appropriation under the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to implement this Act.

Date: 2007-03-12
Topic: Energy (General)
Subject: Energy
Ethanol Infrastructure Expansion Act of 2007 - Directs the Secretary of Energy, in coordination with the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of Transportation, to award up to $1 million to one or more eligible firms to conduct feasibility studies for the construction of one or more dedicated ethanol pipelines.

Date: 2007-03-13
Topic: Energy (General)
Subject: Energy
Department of Energy Carbon Capture and Storage Research, Development, and Demonstration Act of 2007 - Amends the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to direct the Secretary of Energy to: (1) carry out fundamental science and engineering research to develop and document new approaches to capture and store carbon dioxide; (2) ensure that fundamental research is appropriately applied to energy technology development activities and the field testing of carbon sequestration activities; (3) promote regional carbon sequestration partnerships to conduct geologic sequestration tests involving carbon dioxide in a variety of geological settings; and (4) conduct at least seven initial large-volume sequestration tests for geological containment of carbon dioxide. Directs the Secretary, in making competitive awards, to give preference to proposals from partnerships among industrial, academic, and government entities.

Date: 2007-03-22
Topic: Energy (General)
Subject: Energy
Biofuels for Energy Security and Transportation Act of 2007 - Directs the President to: (1) promulgate regulations to ensure that motor vehicle fuel, home heating oil, and boiler fuel sold or introduced into commerce contains prescribed volumes of renewable fuel for calendar years 2008-2022; and (2) publish in the Federal Register the renewable fuel obligation that ensures that such requirements are met. Exempts small refineries until calendar year 2013 from renewable fuel program requirements. Instructs the Secretary of Energy to establish a pilot program administered through the Department of Energy's Vehicle Technology Deployment Program to provide up to 10 geographically-dispersed project grants to governmental entities and metropolitan transportation authorities to establish refueling infrastructure corridors for gasoline blends or diesel fuel containing renewable fuel. Amends the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to increase funding for bioenergy research and development. Authorizes the Secretary to make loan guarantees for renewable fuel facilities. Directs the Secretary to provide grants: (1) for research, development and implementation of renewable fuel production technologies in states with low rates of ethanol production, including low rates of cellulosic biomass ethanol; and (2) to promote infrastructure to support transportation of biomass to local biorefineries, including by portable processing equipment. Directs the Secretary to establish a biorefinery information center. Directs the Federal Trade Commission to impose a fuel tank cap labeling requirement for alternative fueled vehicles beginning with model year 2010 to inform consumers that such vehicle can operate on alternative fuel. Requires various specified studies relating to biofuels technologies.

Date: 2007-03-26
Topic: Energy (General)
Subject: Energy
Department of Energy Electricity Programs Enhancement Act of 2007 - Amends the Department of Energy Organization Act to increase from seven to eight the number of Assistant Secretaries serving in the Department of Energy.Expresses the sense of Congress that leadership for missions of the Department of Energy relating to electricity delivery and reliability should be at the Assistant Secretary level.

Date: 2007-04-24
Topic: Energy (General)
Subject: Energy
Energy Independence Act of 2007 - Establishes the National Commission on Energy Independence to conduct a comprehensive review of domestic energy policy. Requires the Commission to submit a status report in specified calendar years to Congress and the President on progress in meeting the long-term energy policy goal of energy independence.

Date: 2007-05-24
Topic: Energy (General)
Subject: Energy
Fisheries Restoration and Irrigation Mitigation Act of 2007 - Amends the Fisheries Restoration and Irrigation Mitigation Act of 2000 to direct the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, to give priority to any project that has a total cost of less than $2.5 million (currently, $5 million). Authorizes the Secretary, without further appropriation and without fiscal year limitation, to accept any amounts provided to the Secretary by the Administrator of the Bonneville Power Administration. Requires: (1) any amounts provided by the Bonneville Power Administration directly or through a grant to another entity for a project carried out under the Program to be credited toward the non-federal share of project costs; and (2) the Secretary's report on projects under such Act to be made after partnering with local governmental entities and the states in the Pacific Ocean drainage area (Oregon, Washington, Montana, and Idaho). Authorizes appropriations for the Act through FY2014. Sets forth limits and requirements on the amount that may be used each fiscal year for federal and state administrative expenses of carrying out this Act.

Date: 2007-05-24
Topic: Energy (General)
Subject: Water resources development
Directs the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), upon the request of the licensee for project numbered 7307, to extend the time required for commencement of project construction until 24 months after the date of enactment of this Act. Provides for reinstatement of an terminated license.

Date: 2007-06-11
Topic: Energy (General)
Subject: Energy
Directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to establish a schedule for all federal energy authorizations to: (1) ensure expeditious completion of proceedings relating to federal energy authorizations; and (2) accommodate applicable related schedules established by federal law (including regulations).Instructs the Chairperson of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to collaborate with the Administrator to establish a schedule for certain environmental authorizations. Directs the Administrator to maintain a complete consolidated record of all decisions made and all actions carried out by the Administrator or a federal or state administrative agency or officer regarding any federal energy authorization. Amends the National Energy Conservation Policy Act to require the head of each applicable agency to establish an advisory committee to review all energy rules promulgated by the agency during the 10-calendar-year period ending on the date on which the advisory committee is established.Requires: (1) the committee to develop and submit for agency review a list describing energy rules promulgated by the agency during the preceding ten-year period; and (2) the agency to publish such list in the Federal Register and submit it to Congress.Instructs the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to report to Congress on federal rulemaking procedures and their impact upon the public and the regulatory process.Amends the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 to declare that: (1) it is the policy of the United States to ensure that each proposed federal action should be analyzed with respect to its impact upon national energy security; and (2) such analysis should be taken into consideration in developing federal plans, rules, programs, and actions. Requires federal agencies to include in every recommendation or report on legislation a detailed statement on the impact on domestic energy security regarding the effects upon energy production, distribution, and consumption.

Date: 2007-06-12
Topic: Energy (General)
Subject: Energy
Directs the Secretary of Energy to conduct a survey every five years to determine the 10 highest-priority energy-related problems to resolve to ensure the goals of: (1) maximizing U.S. energy security; (2) maximizing improvements in energy efficiency within the United States; and (3) minimizing damage to the domestic economy and the environment. Instructs the Secretary to: (1) report to Congress the survey results, including a list of the 10 highest-priority energy-related problems based on survey responses; and (2) ensure that, during the five year period beginning on the date of receipt of the report, all energy-related research and development activities of the Department of Energy (DOE) are implemented for the purpose of resolving the problems listed.Establishes the Energy Technologies Innovation Network to provide a forum through which interested parties (including scientists and entrepreneurs) can present, discuss, and collaborate with respect to information and ideas relating to energy technologies.Requires each research facility that receives federal funding to provide to the Network the results of the research conducted using that funding, regardless of whether the research relates to energy.

Date: 2007-06-12
Topic: Energy (General)
Subject: Energy
Clean, Reliable, Efficient and Secure Energy Act of 2007 - Amends the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to establish the Appliance Efficiency Standards Commission.Amends the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 to: (1) require an electric utility to demonstrate that alternative investments in advanced grid technologies have been considered before undertaking investments in nonadvanced grid technologies; and (2) prescribe a Clean Energy Portfolio Standard, including a credit program. Establishes the Clean Energy Technology Trust Fund.Transfers to the Secretary of Energy (Secretary) specified lands for use for high-level radioactive waste disposal and spent nuclear fuel. Amends the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 to require the Secretary to apply to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for a license to construct and operate facilities to receive and store spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste at the Yucca Mountain (Nevada) site.Instructs the Secretary to construct the FutureGen Facility to demonstrate integrating commercial-scale gasification combined cycle power plant technologies with advanced clean coal energy technologies.Directs the Secretary of Transportation to: (1) prescribe average fuel economy standards for automobiles; and (2) implement a traffic signal coordination program.Amends the Clean Air Act to instruct the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to promulgate regulations to ensure that diesel fuel contains a certain volume of biodiesel fuel.Amends the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to: (1) authorize appropriations for coal-to-liquid and gas-to-liquid projects; (2) establish the Appliance Efficiency Standards Commission [sic]; and (3) revise requirements for the national greenhouse gas emissions registry. Requires the total amount of fuel utilized by the Department of Defense in a calendar year to be coal-to-liquid fuel, gas-to-liquid fuel, or both. Amends the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to revise requirements about the availability of certain areas of the Outer Continental Shelf for leasing. Prescribes requirements governing energy efficiency in federal buildings and public schools.Instructs the Secretary of Interior to develop a methodology for conducting a national assessment of the geological storage capacity for carbon dioxide. Establishes the Regulatory Reform for Carbon Sequestration Commission.Requires studies and reports to Congress on: (1) replacement of residential HVCAR equipment that does not meet minimum efficiency requirements; (2) fuel economy standards for heavy trucks; (3) synthetic fuel in commercial aircraft; (4) infrastructure needs for renewable fuels; and (5) strategic natural gas reserve.Directs the Secretary to implement an education program to increase public awareness of measures that consumers can take to increase energy efficiency.Reestablishes the Office of Technology Assessment in the legislative branch.

Date: 2007-06-12
Topic: Energy (General)
Subject: Energy
Weighing Intelligence for Smarter Energy Act of 2007 or WISE Act of 2007 - Requires the Director of National Intelligence to report to Congress on the long-term energy security of the United States, including assessments of: (1) key energy issues that have U.S. national security or foreign policy implications; and (2) the future of world energy supplies.

Date: 2007-06-13
Topic: Energy (General)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Low Carbon Economy Act of 2007 - Requires specified regulated entities (including certain fuel distributors and owners and operators of coal facilities or nonfuel regulated entities) to submit to the President: (1) the number of allowances or credits equal to the entity's covered greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions; or (2) a payment equal to the amount of the technology accelerator payment (TAP) price in lieu of submission of required allowances. Requires the President to establish a trading system for such allowances and credits.Requires TAP payments to be deposited into the Energy Technology Deployment Fund.Requires the Secretary of Energy to: (1) report on next generation technologies that can reduce and use methane emissions; and (2) use a portion of the Fund to carry out a methane research and development program.Provides for: (1) allowances to industry, carbon-intensive manufacturing facilities, and states; (2) agricultural sequestration allowances; (3) allowances for early reduction projects; (4) bonus allowances to entities that implement geological sequestration projects; and (5) allowances for technology, adaptation, and low-income household assistance.Provides for credits for: (1) activities that take specified GHG precursors (specified fuel, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, sulfur hexafluoride, or nitrous oxide) out of commerce in the United States; (2) carbon dioxide sequestration; and (3) specified offset projects.Establishes: (1) the Energy Technology Deployment Fund for the zero- or low-carbon energy technologies program, the advanced coal and sequestration technologies program, the cellulosic biomass ethanol and municipal solid waste technology deployment programs, and the advanced technology vehicles manufacturing incentive program; (2) the Climate Adaptation Fund for adaptation programs to address climate change impacts and for fish and wildlife conservation programs; and (3) the Energy Assistance Fund for the low-income home energy assistance program, the Weatherization Assistance Program for Low-Income Persons, and the rural energy assistance program. Requires the President to establish an interagency group to review comparable action by foreign countries with respect to GHG emissions and to make recommendations with respect to foreign credits and international offset projects. Authorizes the President to establish a program to distribute credits for the GHG mitigation benefits of offset projects outside the United States. Requires any U.S. importer of certain covered goods, as a condition of importation, to make a written declaration that the goods are accompanied by a sufficient number of international reserve allowances. Authorizes the President to establish a trading system of international reserve allowances for imported goods.

Date: 2007-07-11
Topic: Energy (General)
Subject: Environmental protection
Amends the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 to require the Secretary of Energy to promulgate regulations regarding: (1) the issuance of credits for electricity and natural gas savings; (2) a national credit trading system; and (3) a system for independent monitoring of the market for such credits. Requires retail electricity or natural gas distributors to submit annually to the Secretary: (1) for each of calendar years 2010-2020 a number of credits equal to specified percentages of the base quantity of electricity or natural gas they delivered to retail customers in the most recent year; and (2) for 2021 and thereafter a number of credits equal to a percentage of such base quantity as the Secretary may determine, but in no case less than the percentage for 2020.Requires the Secretary to: (1) promulgate regulations regarding measurement and verification of electricity and natural gas savings under this Act; and (2) issue credits for verified savings by such distributors and by other entities. Establishes credit values of: (1) 1,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity; and (2) 10 therms of natural gas.Authorizes any entity that receives a credit to: (1) sell or transfer the credit to any other entity; or (2) use the credit to achieve compliance with submission requirements under this Act. Authorizes a distributor to pay the Secretary a buyout fee of $20 for each electricity savings credit or $2 for each natural gas savings credit in lieu of submitting credits.Provides for: (1) state energy efficiency programs in lieu of the program under this Act; and (2) civil penalties for failure to comply with credit submission or buyout requirements.

Date: 2007-09-20
Topic: Energy (General)
Subject: Energy
Coal Fuels and Industrial Gasification Demonstration and Development Act of 2007 - Amends the Energy Policy Act of 1992 to instruct the Secretary of Energy to implement a grants program for obtaining or implementing services for the planning and permitting of certain eligible projects that produce liquid transportation fuels, industrial chemicals, or electricity. Requires the Secretary to make direct loans to eligible individuals and entities to implement such projects. Directs the Secretary to select eligible projects to receive loans through a reverse auction, giving priority to eligible projects with the greatest percentage reduction of lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions in comparison to facilities that use conventional feedstocks and do not use carbon capture and sequestration technologies. Directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to: (1) establish a methodology for determining the lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions of coal-derived liquid transportation fuels; (2) implement a research and demonstration program to evaluate the emissions of the use of coal-to-liquid fuel for transportation, including gasoline, diesel, marine, and jet fuel; and (3) evaluate the effect of using coal-to-liquid transportation fuel on vehicle emissions, including motor vehicles, nonroad vehicles, and aircraft. Directs the Secretary and the Secretary of Defense to study and report to specified congressional committees on the feasibility and suitability of maintaining coal-to-liquid products in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR). Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide: (1) a business credit for sequestration of carbon dioxide captured within the United States; (2) a seven-year applicable recovery period for depreciation of qualified carbon dioxide pipeline property; (3) treatment of certain income and gains relating to industrial source carbon dioxide as qualifying income for publicly traded partnerships; and (4) extend and modify the alternative fuel credit.

Date: 2007-10-04
Topic: Energy (General)
Subject: Energy
Green Energy Production Act of 2008 - Requires the Secretary of Energy to establish a green technology investment program to develop high-tech green research capabilities, promote green innovation and green energy investment, and increase scientific knowledge that may reveal the basis for new or enhanced products, equipment, or processes in target areas.Establishes in the Department of Energy the Green Technology Investment Corporation to allocate funds, provide grants, and carry out component programs for all phases of technology commercialization. Requires the Corporation to establish: (1) a green development loan program for green technology investment; (2) a green markets grant program; (3) a green redevelopment, opportunity, and workforce grant program; (4) a green energy manufacturing loan program; (5) a green energy community pilot program; (6) a green energy institution of higher education pilot program; (7) a National Guard base green energy grant pilot program; (8) a green energy technology internship program; and (9) a green energy technology apprenticeship program.Establishes in the Treasury the Green Technology Investment Fund to provide grants, loans, and assistance under this Act. Requires the Secretary of Energy to establish an energy efficiency grant program.Sets forth provisions concerning: (1) a project's eligibility for grants, loans, and assistance; and (2) grant priorities.

Date: 2008-04-30
Topic: Energy (General)
Subject: Energy
Community College Sustainability Act - Directs the Secretary of Labor to establish a sustainablity workforce training and education program by awarding grants to community colleges for workforce training and education in industries and practices, such as: (1) alternative energy; (2) green construction, retrofitting, and design; (3) green chemistry, nanotechnology, or technology; (4) water and energy conservation; (5) recycling and waste reduction; and (6) sustainable agricultural or culinary practices. Requires at least one-half of the funds provided under this Act to be awarded to schools that have existing sustainability programs leading to certificates or degrees in at least one of the industries or practices listed above.

Date: 2008-06-12
Topic: Energy (General)
Subject: Education
Close the London Loophole Act of 2008 - Amends the Commodity Exchange Act to authorize the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), in the case of a registered entity located within the United States, and subject to CFTC jurisdiction, which trades on a foreign board of trade, exchange, or market located outside the United States, to: (1) enforce criminal prosecution of violations, including manipulation or attempted manipulation, the making of false statements, and willful violations of this Act; (2) require a person to limit, reduce, or liquidate any position to prevent or reduce the threat of price manipulation, excessive speculation, price distortion, or disruption of delivery or the cash settlement process; and (3) apply necessary recordkeeping requirements. Addresses the kind of case in which the CFTC grants or considers granting relief to a foreign board of trade from the requirement that it become a designated contract market, derivatives transaction execution facility, or other registered entity with respect to an energy commodity physically delivered in the United States. Requires the CFTC, before granting or considering such relief, to determine that the foreign board of trade: (1) applies comparable principles or requirements regarding the daily publication of trading information and position limits or accountability levels for speculators as apply to a designated contract market, derivatives transaction execution facility, or other registered entity trading energy commodities physically delivered in the United States; and (2) provides such information to the CFTC regarding the extent of speculative and nonspeculative trading in the energy commodity that is comparable to the information the CFTC determines necessary to publish a Commitment of Traders report for such a designated contract market, derivatives transaction execution facility, or other registered entity.

Date: 2008-06-12
Topic: Energy (General)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) modify tax-exempt bond financing rules to exclude from the private business use and private loan financing tests certain property used to transmit electricity or carbon dioxide or to transport crude oil and other petroleum products; and (2) reduce the state volume cap for tax-exempt bonds by the amount of bonds issued for such property.Describes the following as acts that unreasonably burden and discriminate against interstate commerce, and prohibits states, political subdivisions, and any other taxing authority from: (1) assessing natural gas pipeline property at a value that has a higher ratio to its true market value than the ratio used to assess other commercial and industrial property in the same assessment jurisdiction; (2) levying or collecting a tax on such an assessment; (3) levying or collecting an ad valorem property tax on natural gas pipeline property at a rate that exceeds the rate applicable to commercial and industrial property in the same assessment jurisdiction; or (4) imposing any other tax that discriminates against a natural gas pipeline providing transportation subject to the jurisdiction of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.Grants jurisdiction to U.S. District Courts and provides specified relief for claims of discriminatory taxation of natural gas pipeline property. Amends federal transportation law to modify the criteria for natural gas pipeline integrity reassessments to require the Secretary of Transportation to issue regulations basing the intervals for reassessments on certain technical data, risk factors, and engineering analysis.

Date: 2008-06-19
Topic: Energy (General)
Subject: Taxation
Title VII Fairness Act - Amends the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 and title VII (Equal Employment Opportunities) of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to delay the start of the time period for filing charges of employment discrimination until the aggrieved person has, or should be expected to have, enough information to support a reasonable suspicion of the discrimination, provided the aggrieved person demonstrates that the person did not have, and should not have been expected to have, enough information to support a reasonable suspicion of such discrimination on the date on which the alleged discrimination occurred. Prohibits applying these amendments to alleged discrimination relating to pensions or pension benefits. Applies the above Civil Rights Act of 1964 amendment to discrimination claims brought under: (1) specified provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990; and (2) provisions of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 relating to employment by the federal government.

Date: 2008-06-26
Topic: Energy (General)
Subject: Civil rights and liberties, minority issues
Strengthening Management of Advanced Recycling Technologies Act of 2008 or the SMART Act of 2008 - Requires the Secretary of Energy to offer to enter into cooperative agreements with specified persons, municipalities, or electric utilities to: (1) develop licensing documentation and technical criteria for new recycling plants; (2) conduct specified design and engineering work on recycling technology designs; and (3) share the cost of obtaining construction and operating licenses for specified used fuel recycling facilities. Requires assistance for such agreements to be awarded only to private entities that propose to develop recycling facilities that meet specified prerequisites.Requires the Secretary to offer to enter into long-term contracts with specified persons, municipalities, or electric utilities to recycle commercial used nuclear fuel.Requires the Secretary to: (1) offer to enter into temporary agreements to store high-level radioactive waste produced by specified facilities; (2) make payments to specified local governments that have submitted notices that they are willing to have a privately owned and operated temporary used fuel storage facility located within their jurisdiction; (3) offer to enter into temporary used fuel storage facility economic impact agreements with local governments upon the docketing of license applications for such facilities by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC); and (4) offer to enter into a long-term contract for the storage of used fuel from civilian nuclear power plants with a private entity that owns or operates an independent used fuel storage facility licensed by the NRC within the jurisdiction of local governments that receive assistance.Authorizes the Secretary to settle specified claims against the Secretary for failure to dispose of high-level radioactive waste or used nuclear fuel by January 31, 1998. Requires the Secretary to: (1) provide priority for the acceptance of used nuclear fuel from a facility that has been decommissioned and shut down permanently; and (2) provide for the transportation of used fuel. Amends the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 to set a fee for electricity generated by a civilian nuclear power reactor and sold by a specified date.Changes the name of the Nuclear Waste Fund to the Nuclear Waste Revolving Fund and authorizes the Secretary to make expenditures from it for the management of used nuclear fuel.Declares that for purposes of NRC license determinations under the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 and this Act, the Secretary's obligation to develop a repository in accordance with the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 provides sufficient and independent grounds for any further NRC findings of reasonable assurances that used nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste would be disposed of safely and in a timely manner.

Date: 2008-06-26
Topic: Energy (General)
Subject: Energy
Better Energy Strategy for Tomorrow Act of 2008, or the BEST Act of 2008 - Directs the Secretary of Energy each year to: (1) analyze all federal policies that encourage, or have the potential to encourage, energy production in the United States; and (2) report to specified congressional committees recommendations for the adjustment of such policies to reduce the dependence of the United States on foreign sources of energy, air pollutants in the environment, greenhouse gas emissions, and the cost of energy. Requires the President to develop every four years and report to Congress on an energy security strategy that proposes comprehensive and long-range energy policies to reduce such dependence, air pollutants, emissions, and cost.

Date: 2008-07-10
Topic: Energy (General)
Subject: Energy
Compensation and Respect for Energy Workers Act of 2008 or the CARE Act - Amends the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act to expand the diseases for which individuals who were exposed to radiation from nuclear testing may claim compensation to include chronic lymphocytic leukemia, posterior subcapsular cataracts, nonmalignant thyroid nodular disease, parathyroid adenoma, malignant tumors of the brain and central nervous system, and brochio-alveolar carcinoma, and benign neoplasms of the brain and central nervous system. Amends the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act of 2000 to: (1) provide to potential claimants of compensation a list of physicians qualified to perform medical and impairment screenings and a written notice of benefits for which they may be eligible under such Act; (2) require exposure assessments of contaminated sites to identify by trade name (if any) any chemical commonly used in such sites; (3) require the Secretary of Labor to provide the public with site profiles and other information used to evaluate claims for compensation; (4) require payment of compensation to a claimant's estate if such claimant dies after filing a claim but before any compensation is paid and leaves no survivors; (5) expand the duties of the Office of the Ombudsman in the Department of Labor to include providing benefit information to claimants and contracting for expert services; and (6) extend to one year the limitation period for filing a petition for review in federal district court of any denial of a compensation claim. Allows claimants under the Act 120 days to respond to a request for information from the Secretary.Requires the promulgation of regulations for: (1) the direct payment to providers of personal care services and transportation expenses for claimants who receive medical benefits under the Act; (2) providing clear, concise, and easily understandable explanations of the claims process, including denials of claims; and (3) the retention of records in the Departments of Energy (DOE) and Labor that might be used by claimants in the claims process.

Date: 2008-07-24
Topic: Energy (General)
Subject: Labor and employment
Amends the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to require the Secretary of Energy to: (1) designate field or district offices of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in Arizona, California, New Mexico, Nevada, Montana, and Wyoming to serve as Renewable Energy Pilot Project Offices for coordination of federal permits for renewable energy projects and transmission lines to integrate renewable energy; and (2) enter into an amended memorandum of understanding with the Secretary of Agriculture, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Chief of Engineers to provide for the inclusion of the additional Renewable Energy Pilot Project Offices in the Federal Permit Streamlining Pilot Project.Amends the Mineral Leasing Act to make the BLM Permit Processing Improvement Fund available to the Secretary of the Interior for expenditures for the coordination and processing of oil and gas and renewable energy use authorizations on onshore federal land under the jurisdiction of the Pilot Project Offices.

Date: 2008-09-10
Topic: Energy (General)
Subject: Energy
Save America's Utility Infrastructure and Secure America Now Act of 2009 - Amends the Federal Power Act to grant the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) enforcement powers with respect to electric reliability standards (currently such powers are exercised by an Electric Reliability Organization [ERO]).Revises penalty guidelines to subject to federal criminal law any person who violates a FERC-approved electric reliability standard.Requires FERC to issue a rule in connection with electric reliability standards to prohibit disturbances lasting greater than five days at certain substations (other than planned maintenance).Instructs the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to study and report to Congress on gaps in emergency planning preparedness and management regarding specified vulnerable populations.

Date: 2009-01-06
Topic: Energy (General)
Subject: Energy
Instructs the Secretary of Energy to report to Congress on the Secretary's review of the fuel supply plan components of state evacuation plans and the National Capital region. Prescribes report contents.Authorizes the Secretary, during any federally declared emergency or disaster, to provide direct assistance to private sector entities that operate critical energy infrastructure, including refineries.Allows such assistance to include emergency preparation and recovery assistance, particularly power generation equipment, other protective or emergency recovery equipment, assistance to restore access to water, power, or other raw materials, and transportation and housing for critical employees.Establishes in the Treasury the Critical Energy Assurance Account.

Date: 2009-01-07
Topic: Energy (General)
Subject: Energy
New Manhattan Project for Energy Independence - Requires the President to convene a summit to review the progress and promise of, the interrelationship of, and the additional funding needed to accelerate the progress of: (1) developing alternative technology vehicles that are not more than 10% more expensive than comparable model year vehicles; (2) developing and building energy efficient buildings that use no more than 50% of the energy of buildings of similar size and type; (3) constructing a large scale solar thermal power plant or solar photovoltaic power plant capable of generating 300 megawatts or more at a cost of 10 cents or less per kilowatt-hour; (4) developing and producing biofuel that does not exceed 105% of the cost for the energy equivalent of unleaded gasoline; (5) developing and implementing a carbon capture and storage system for a large scale coal-burning power plant that does not increase operating costs more than 15% compared to a baseline design without carbon capture and storage while providing an estimated chance of carbon dioxide escape of no greater than 1% over 5,000 years; (6) developing both a process to remediate radioactive waste so that it is not harmful for at least 5,000 years and a model that accounts for the effects of nuclear waste in that process; and (7) developing a sustainable nuclear fusion reaction capable of providing a large-scale sustainable source of electricity for residential, commercial, or government entities. Requires the Secretary of Energy to implement: (1) a program to support such technologies; and (2) a program to competitively award cash prizes to advance the research, development, demonstration, and commercial application necessary to advance such technologies. Establishes the New Manhattan Project Commission on Energy Independence and sets forth its duties, including recommending to Congress steps to achieve 50% energy independence within 10 years and 100% energy independence within 20 years and assessing the impact of foreign energy dependence on national security.

Date: 2009-01-14
Topic: Energy (General)
Subject: Energy
Save American Energy Act - Amends the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 to establish a federal energy efficiency resource standard for retail electricity and natural gas distributors. Requires the Secretary of Energy to: (1) establish a program to implement, enforce, review, and adjust performance standards for specified cumulative electricity and natural gas savings for 2012 through 2020; (2) promulgate regulations establishing performance standards for 2021 through 2030 and for subsequent years by specified deadlines; and (3) set such standards at levels reflecting the maximum achievable level of cost-effective energy efficiency potential, taking into account cost-effective energy savings achieved by leading retail electricity and natural gas distributors, opportunities for new codes and standard savings, technology improvements, and other indicators of cost-effective energy efficiency potential. Prohibits standards for any year from being lower than the standard for 2020. Requires each retail electricity and natural gas distributor to submit a report annually demonstrating that it has achieved required savings and requires the Secretary to verify that performance standards have been met. Authorizes distributors to use electricity or natural gas savings purchased from another distributor, a state, or a third party efficiency provider to meet such standards. Provides for state administration of an energy efficiency program to meet the requirements of this Act. Requires the Secretary to contract with the National Academy of Sciences to submit a comprehensive evaluation of all aspects of the program established by this Act by July 1, 2017, and every 10 years thereafter.

Date: 2009-02-04
Topic: Energy (General)
Subject: Energy
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a business-related tax credit for: (1) the production of renewable energy from qualified energy feedstock using a technology verified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); and (2) the sale or use of such energy. Defines "qualified energy feedstock" to include manure of livestock, any nonhazardous, organic agricultural or food industry byproduct or waste material derived from renewable biomass, solid wood waste materials, or agricultural or forestry crops. Allows such credit to offset alternative minimum tax (AMT) liability.

Date: 2009-02-04
Topic: Energy (General)
Subject: Taxation
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow the tax credit for nonbusiness energy property for property placed in service in 2008.

Date: 2009-02-23
Topic: Energy (General)
Subject: Taxation
Clean Environment and Stable Energy Market Act of 2009 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to require covered persons (i.e., coal producers, oil refinery operators, and producers and importers of other greenhouse gases emission substances) to purchase a federal emission permit (denominated in carbon dioxide equivalents) from the Secretary of the Treasury for the sale or use of a greenhouse gas (GHG) emission substance. Exempts from such requirement GHG emission substances to be used: (1) as material in the production of another article by such person; or (2) for noncombustion agricultural purposes. Requires the Secretary to impose a GHG emission permit equivalency fee on imports of carbon intensive goods. Requires the Secretary, after consultation with the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Secretary of Energy, to establish a price for obtaining a permit for a year based on a determination of the dollar amount necessary to ensure that the demand for permits does not exceed the GHG emission allocations for such year. Requires the Secretary to publish a five-year price schedule for permits by January 1, 2010, and every five years thereafter. Authorizes the Secretary to modify the schedule. Sets forth a formula to determine the national GHG emission allocation limitations for 2011-2050. Provides for refunds of permit fees to specified: (1) permittees that use GHG emission substances in a manner that will make a negligible or no contribution to global warming; and (2) exporters of carbon-intensive goods. Imposes a tax on covered persons who fail to obtain a required permit. Establishes in the Treasury the Climate Protection and Economic Security Trust Fund where revenue raised from permit sales shall be deposited. Applies this Act to the sale of any GHG emission substance after December 31, 2010.

Date: 2009-03-24
Topic: Energy (General)
Subject: Taxation
Establishes the Green Bank as a federally owned independent corporation with a 20-year charter. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to issue Green Bonds to acquire the Bank's capital stock. Requires the Bank to establish a program to provide, on a competitive basis, loans, loan guarantees, debt securitization, insurance, portfolio insurance, and other forms of financing support or risk management for qualifying clean energy or energy efficiency projects. Sets forth requirements for the provision of financial support from the Bank. Requires the Bank to assess reasonable fees on its activities to cover its costs and expenses, provided the Bank operates as a not-for-profit. Gives the Bank immunity from impairment, limitations, or restrictions by or under laws and administrative or other action. Authorizes the Bank to conduct its business without regard to state law relating to incorporation. Exempts the Bank from all state or local taxation except real property taxation. Requires the Chief Executive Officer of the Bank to set forth spending safeguards, including: (1) deobligating financial support to entities that demonstrate an insufficient level of performance or wasteful or fraudulent spending; and (2) creating a publicly available online database with information about financing support or risk management.

Date: 2009-03-24
Topic: Energy (General)
Subject: Energy
Smart Grid Advancement Act - Requires the Secretary of Energy and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to: (1) assess the potential for cost-effective integration of Smart Grid technologies and capabilities in all products that are reviewed by the Department of Energy (DOE) and EPA for potential designation as Energy Star products; (2) conduct a best case smart grid analysis by analyzing the potential energy savings and electricity cost savings that could accrue for such products in specified circumstances; and (3) take specified actions when they find that including Smart Gird capability in products is cost effective in the best case. Sets forth provisions concerning Smart Grid peak demand reduction goals, including requiring: (1) load serving entities or states to determine and publish demand reduction goals for such entities that have applicable baselines in excess of 250 megawatts; (2) the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to develop and publish a methodology to provide for adjustments or normalization to a load serving entity's applicable baseline over time to reflect changes in the number of customers served, weather conditions, general economic conditions, and other factors external to peak load management; (3) the Secretary to develop a system for measuring and verifying demand reductions; and (4) each load serving entity to prepare a peak load reduction plan. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to offset the costs of carrying out responsibilities to be implemented under this Act. Amends the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to revise: (1) the Energy Efficiency Public Information Initiative, including by renaming the program as the Energy Efficiency and Smart Grid Public Information Initiative and authorizing appropriations through FY2020; and (2) the Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program, including by renaming the program as the Energy Efficient and Smart Appliance Rebate Program and authorizing appropriations through FY2015.

Date: 2009-03-30
Topic: Energy (General)
Subject: Energy