zli12321/Bills huggingface dataset:
Government Oil Acquisition Financial Accountability and Consumer Relief Act of 2008 - Instructs the Secretary of Energy to suspend petroleum acquisition for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR). Authorizes the Secretary to resume petroleum acquisition for the SPR not earlier than 30 days after the date on which the Secretary notifies Congress that for the most recent consecutive four-week period: (1) the weighted average price of retail, regular, all formulations gasoline in the United States is $2.50 or less per gallon; or (2) the weighted average price of retail, No. 2 diesel in the United States is $2.75 or less per gallon. Amends the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to require that acquisitions made for the SPR reflect a steady monthly dollar value of oil.Instructs the Secretary to include at least 10% heavy crude oil in making any crude oil acquisitions for the SPR.

Date: 2008-04-28
Topic: Energy (Natural Gas & Oil)
Subject: Energy
Domestic Offshore Energy Security Act of 2008, or the DOES Act - Permits United States persons to: (1) engage in exploration and extraction of hydrocarbon resources from any portion of any foreign exclusive economic zone contiguous to the exclusive economic zone of the United States; and (2) export without license authority all pertinent equipment for such activity. Amends the Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act of 2000 to direct the Secretary of the Treasury to authorize travel-related transactions for travel to, from, or within Cuba in connection with exploration and extraction of hydrocarbon resources in any part of a foreign maritime Exclusive Economic Zone contiguous to the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone. Identifies as persons authorized to travel to Cuba any full-time employees, executives, and agents and consultants of oil and gas producers, distributors, and shippers. Amends the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006 to: (1) repeal the moratorium on oil and gas leasing east of the Military Mission Line in the Gulf of Mexico; and (2) decrease to 45 miles within the coastline of Florida the moratorium on oil and gas leasing. Instructs the Secretary of the Interior to promulgate regulations that establish environmental safeguards for oil and natural gas exploration and production on the outer Continental Shelf. Authorizes such Secretary to inventory the oil and natural gas resources beneath the waters of the outer Continental Shelf off the coasts of Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, or Georgia, only if the respective state governor requests it. Amends the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to instruct the Secretary of Energy, in evaluating applications for enhanced oil and natural gas production through carbon dioxide injection, to grant priority consideration to applications carried out in geologically challenging fields. Requires the Secretaries of the Interior and of Energy (Secretaries) to suspend acquisition of petroleum for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) during calendar 2008. Authorizes the Secretaries to resume such acquisition after the President notifies Congress that the weighted average price of petroleum in the United States for the most recent 90-day period is $75 or less per barrel.

Date: 2008-05-01
Topic: Energy (Natural Gas & Oil)
Subject: Energy
Increases, for veterans with home loans, the maximum guaranty limit for refinance loans and the percentage of an existing loan that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will refinance.

Date: 2008-05-01
Topic: Energy (Natural Gas & Oil)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Consumer-First Energy Act of 2008 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) deny major integrated oil companies (i.e., companies producing at least 500,000 barrels of crude oil daily) a tax deduction for income attributable to domestic production of oil, gas, or primary products thereof; (2) conform tax treatment of foreign oil and gas extraction income and foreign oil related income for purposes of the foreign tax credit; (3) impose a windfall profits tax on major integrated oil companies; and (4) establish an Energy Independence and Security Trust Fund funded by revenues raised by the tax provisions of this Act to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign and unsustainable energy sources and reduce the risks of global warming. Petroleum Consumer Price Gouging Protection Act - Declares it unlawful for a supplier to sell crude oil, gasoline, petroleum distillates, or biofuel at an unconscionably excessive price in an area for which the President declares that an energy emergency exists. Grants the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) authority to enforce this Act.Authorizes the President to declare a federal energy emergency if the well-being of U.S. citizens is at risk because of a shortage or imminent shortage of adequate supplies of crude oil, gasoline, petroleum distillates, or biofuel because of: (1) a disruption in the national distribution system; or (2) significant pricing anomalies in the national energy markets for such products.Authorizes state attorneys general to bring civil actions to enforce this Act. Sets forth civil and criminal penalties for violations.Directs the Secretaries of Energy and the Interior to suspend acquisition of petroleum for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve until December 31, 2008.No Oil Producing and Exporting Cartels Act of 2008 or NOPEC - Amends the Sherman Act to make it illegal for any foreign state to act with another foreign state to: (1) limit the production or distribution of oil, natural gas, or any other petroleum product; (2) set or maintain prices for such products; or (3) otherwise take any action in restraint of trade for such products. Denies sovereign immunity or act of state doctrine protections for foreign states who engage in such such illegal conduct. Amends the Commodity Exchange Act to require the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to: (1) determine that foreign boards of trade subject to CFTC jurisdiction regulate and provide information on off-shore oil trading; and (2) set a substantial increase in margin levels for all oil futures trades, contracts, or transactions.

Date: 2008-05-07
Topic: Energy (Natural Gas & Oil)
Subject: Energy
Authorizes the city of Aurora, Colorado, to convey by donation to the United States nonfederal lands consisting of parcel I of the former United States Army Garrison Fitzsimons, Colorado, as more specifically described in the deed, and the parcel of land described in the deed, for construction of a veterans' medical facility.

Date: 2008-05-19
Topic: Energy (Natural Gas & Oil)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Consumer-First Energy Act of 2008 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) deny major integrated oil companies (i.e., companies producing at least 500,000 barrels of crude oil daily) a tax deduction for income attributable to domestic production of oil, gas, or primary products thereof; (2) conform tax treatment of foreign oil and gas extraction income and foreign oil related income for purposes of the foreign tax credit; (3) impose a windfall profits tax on major integrated oil companies; and (4) establish an Energy Independence and Security Trust Fund funded by revenues raised by the tax provisions of this Act to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign and unsustainable energy sources and reduce the risks of global warming. Petroleum Consumer Price Gouging Protection Act - Declares it unlawful for a supplier to sell crude oil, gasoline, petroleum distillates, or biofuel at an unconscionably excessive price in an area for which the President declares that an energy emergency exists. Grants the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) authority to enforce this Act.Authorizes the President to declare a federal energy emergency if the well-being of U.S. citizens is at risk because of a shortage or imminent shortage of adequate supplies of crude oil, gasoline, petroleum distillates, or biofuel because of: (1) a disruption in the national distribution system; or (2) significant pricing anomalies in the national energy markets for such products.Authorizes state attorneys general to bring civil actions to enforce this Act. Sets forth civil and criminal penalties for violations.Directs the Secretaries of Energy and the Interior to suspend acquisition of petroleum for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve until December 31, 2008.No Oil Producing and Exporting Cartels Act of 2008 or NOPEC - Amends the Sherman Act to make it illegal for any foreign state to act with another foreign state to: (1) limit the production or distribution of oil, natural gas, or any other petroleum product; (2) set or maintain prices for such products; or (3) otherwise take any action in restraint of trade for such products. Denies sovereign immunity or act of state doctrine protections for foreign states who engage in such such illegal conduct. Amends the Commodity Exchange Act to require the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to: (1) determine that foreign boards of trade subject to CFTC jurisdiction regulate and provide information on off-shore oil trading; and (2) set a substantial increase in margin levels for all oil futures trades, contracts, or transactions.

Date: 2008-05-20
Topic: Energy (Natural Gas & Oil)
Subject: Energy
Oil Savings Act of 2008 - States that it is U.S. policy to reduce the dependence of the United States on oil and thereby: (1) alleviate the strategic dependence of the United States on oil-producing countries; (2) reduce the economic vulnerability of the United States; and (3) reduce the greenhouse gas emissions associated with oil use.Directs an Interagency Task Force, composed of the Secretaries of Energy, Transportation, Defense, Agriculture, and the Treasury, as well as the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and any other agency head determined appropriate by the President, to: (1) publish an action plan for achieving specified oil savings targets during calendar years 2016, 2026, and 2030; and (2) report to Congress on the progress achieved in implementing such targets and expected oil savings under the action plan. Requires the plan to include an analysis demonstrating expected oil savings that result from changes to motor vehicle fuel consumption standards and under the renewable fuel program.Requires a revised action plan if oil savings fall short of targets.

Date: 2008-05-22
Topic: Energy (Natural Gas & Oil)
Subject: Energy
Strengthening Transparency and Accountability in Federal Spending Act of 2008 - Amends the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 with respect to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) searchable federal funding database website. Requires the website to allow the public to search programmatically and access all data in a serialized machine readable format (such as XML) via a web-services application programming interface. Specifies additional information on federal awards (federal financial assistance and expenditures) the website must include by certain deadlines. Requires the website to present information about federal awards and their recipients in ways that meet the needs of users with different levels of understanding about government spending and abilities using searching websites.Sets forth requirements of the Director of OMB to add specified data quality enhancements to the website.Requires the Director to ensure that the unique identifier used to link information on the website is also used to link information about performance of individual contractors and recipients of financial assistance starting with awards given in FY2008.Requires the chief executive officer of an award recipient to certify whether the entity has: (1) filed all federal tax returns required during the preceding five years; (2) been convicted of a criminal offense under the Internal Revenue Code; and (3) an outstanding debt under the Code for which a notice of lien has been publicly filed that is not being paid in a timely manner, or for which a collection due process hearing or relief is requested or pending.Requires the Director to: (1) develop certification forms; (2) ensure that each agency providing federal awards complies with tax compliance requirements; and (3) ensure that the website contains such certified information.

Date: 2008-06-03
Topic: Energy (Natural Gas & Oil)
Subject: Economics and public finance
Imported Ethanol Parity Act - Requires the President to: (1) reduce semiannually the temporary duty imposed on ethanol by an amount equal to the reduction in any federal income or excise tax credit for alcohol and ethanol blends used as fuel; and (2) take other necessary actions to ensure that the temporary duty imposed on ethanol is equal to, or lower than, any federal income or excise tax credit applicable to ethanol.

Date: 2008-06-04
Topic: Energy (Natural Gas & Oil)
Subject: Foreign trade and international finance
Trade Reform, Accountability, Development, and Employment Act of 2008, or the TRADE Act of 2008 - Directs the Comptroller General of the United States to: (1) review certain free trade agreements (including Uruguay Round Agreements) between the United States and foreign countries; and (2) report to the Congressional Trade Agreement Review Committee regarding such agreements, including analyses of specified subjects and of each agreement, as well as whether the country has a democratic form of government that respects certain core labor rights and fundamental human rights, protects intellectual property rights, and enforces environmental laws.Declares that implementing bills of new trade agreements shall be subject to a point of order in the Senate unless such agreements include certain standards with respect to: (1) labor; (2) environment and public safety; (3) food and product health and safety; (4) provision of services; (5) investment; (6) procurement; (7) intellectual property; (8) agriculture; (9) trade remedies and safeguards; (10) rules of origin; (11) dispute resolution and enforcement; (12) technical assistance; and (13) national security.Requires the President to submit to Congress a plan to bring existing trade agreements into compliance with such standards.Establishes a Congressional Trade Agreement Review Committee.Expresses the sense of Congress that a certain process for U.S. trade negotiations should be followed when Congress considers legislation providing special procedures for implementing bills of trade agreements.

Date: 2008-06-04
Topic: Energy (Natural Gas & Oil)
Subject: Foreign trade and international finance
Cooperative Watershed Management Act of 2008 - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to establish a Cooperative Watershed Management Program, under which the Secretary shall provide grants to form or enlarge a watershed group or to conduct water management projects in accordance with the goals of such a group. Defines a "watershed group" as a self-sustaining, cooperative watershed-wide group that: (1) is comprised of representatives of the affected stakeholders of the relevant watershed; (2) is a grassroots, nonregulatory entity that addresses water availability and quality issues within the relevant watershed; (3) is capable of promoting the sustainable use of the water resources of the relevant watershed and improving the functioning condition of rivers and streams through water conservation, improved water quality, ecological resiliency, and the reduction of water conflicts; and (4) makes decisions on a consensus basis. Requires a watershed group to include: (1) representatives of hydroelectric production, livestock grazing, timber production, land development, recreation or tourism, irrigated agricultural production, the environment, potable water purveyors and industrial water users, and private property owners within the watershed; (2) any federal, state, or local agency agency that has authority regarding the watershed; and (3) any Indian tribe member who owns land within the watershed or land held in trust.Authorizes the Secretary, in distributing grant funds, to give priority to watershed groups that represent maximum diversity of interest or serve subbasin-sized watersheds with an eight-digit hydrologic unit code. Sets forth usage and progress requirements for, procedures for awarding, and federal shares of the costs of first-, second-, and third-phase grants.Requires: (1) annual reports by watershed groups to the Secretary on progress; and (2) reports every five years by the Secretary to specified congressional committees on Program benefits and effectiveness. Authorizes appropriations for FY2008-FY2020.

Date: 2008-06-05
Topic: Energy (Natural Gas & Oil)
Subject: Water resources development
Safe Aviation Facilities Ensure Aircraft Integrity and Reliability Act of 2008 or the SAFE AIR Act of 2008 - Requires the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to: (1) prescribe regulations requiring maintenance work on passenger aircraft to be performed by certain authorized individuals; (2) certify to Congress that the FAA has inspected each foreign repair station that has performed work on U.S. air carrier aircraft or components at least twice in the preceding year and tested persons who perform safety-sensitive functions at such stations for use of alcohol or controlled substances; and (3) develop a plan to identify all noncertified maintenance providers that have performed maintenance work on such aircraft. Prohibits the Administrator from certifying a foreign repair station unless it complies with certain final security regulations.

Date: 2008-06-05
Topic: Energy (Natural Gas & Oil)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Responsible Ownership of Public Land Act - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to establish an annual production incentive fee for federal onshore and offshore lands subject to a lease for production of oil or natural gas under which production is not occurring. Prescribes the fee amount for each acre of land from which oil or natural gas is produced for less than 90 days in a calendar year.Establishes the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Fund to serve as depository for fees received under this Act.Describes energy programs to be funded with such fees, including: (1) solar energy research and development; (2) next-generation wind turbines; (3) weatherization assistance low-income housing; (4) new technologies to improve the energy efficiency of and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from buildings; (5) energy storage systems to support electric drive vehicles, stationary applications, and electricity transmission and distribution; (6) advanced vehicles research, development, and demonstration; and (7) low-income home energy assistance.

Date: 2008-06-12
Topic: Energy (Natural Gas & Oil)
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Energy Needed Offshore Under Gas Hikes Act - Allows the governor of a state, during any period in which the price of regular gasoline is equal to or greater than $5, with the concurrence of the state legislature, to petition the Secretary of the Interior to make a new producing area of the state eligible for: (1) oil leasing, gas leasing, or both, as determined by the state in accordance with the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act and the Mineral Leasing Act; or (2) natural gas leasing only. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to deposit 45% of all rentals, royalties, bonus bids, and other sums due and payable to the United States from leases for new producing areas (qualified revenues) in the outer Continental Shelf into the general fund of the Treasury. Requires 55% of qualified revenues to be deposited into a special account in the Treasury, from which the Secretary shall disburse: (1) 37.5% to eligible producing states for new producing areas; (2) 12.5% to provide assistance to states in accordance with the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965; and (3) 5% to states for historic offshore production distribution.

Date: 2008-06-18
Topic: Energy (Natural Gas & Oil)
Subject: Energy
Responsible Federal Oil and Gas Lease Act - Prohibits the Secretary of the Interior from authorizing any new lease for exploration or production of oil or natural gas unless the lessee: (1) certifies for each existing lease that the lessee has diligently developed the lands in order to produce oil or natural gas, or is producing oil or natural gas from such lands; or (2) has relinquished all federal oil and gas leases that are not being diligently developed. Instructs the Secretary to promulgate diligent development regulations that: (1) include benchmarks for oil and gas development to ensure that leaseholders produce oil and gas from each lease within the original term of the lease; and (2) require each leaseholder to submit a diligent development plan showing how the lessee will meet the benchmarks. Establishes a civil penalty for noncompliance with this Act.

Date: 2008-07-10
Topic: Energy (Natural Gas & Oil)
Subject: Energy
Home Energy Assistance Today Act - Provides additional funding in FY2008 for state allotments and emergency allotments under the low-income home energy assistance program. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to deny major integrated oil companies a tax deduction for income attributable to the domestic production of oil, gas, or primary products thereof.

Date: 2008-07-17
Topic: Energy (Natural Gas & Oil)
Subject: Energy
Emergency Energy Response Act of 2008 - Amends the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to direct the Secretary of Energy to make grants to states to pay the federal share of the cost of establishing and implementing response plans to address rising heating oil, natural gas, diesel, and other energy costs.

Date: 2008-07-17
Topic: Energy (Natural Gas & Oil)
Subject: Energy
Liquefied Natural Gas Import Terminal Authorization Act - Amends the Natural Gas Act to prohibit siting, constructing, expanding, or operating a liquefied natural gas import terminal within a state unless: (1) an application to do so is submitted to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and to the agency with siting authority in the state in which the liquefied natural gas import terminal is located; and (2) FERC and the state agency issue an order approving the application. Sets forth terms and conditions for application approval. Amends federal transportation law to permit a state to adopt additional or more stringent safety standards for liquefied natural gas pipeline facilities if those standards are compatible with the minimum standards prescribed under federal pipeline safety law. Prohibits a state authority from adopting or continuing in force safety standards for interstate pipeline facilities or transportation, except in the case of liquefied natural gas pipeline facilities.

Date: 2008-08-01
Topic: Energy (Natural Gas & Oil)
Subject: Energy
Support for Iraq Oil Trust Act of 2008 - Withholds specified percentages of Economic Support Fund assistance for Iraq unless the Secretary of State certifies within specified time periods to the appropriate congressional committees that U.S. government representatives have presented an oil trust plan to Iraqi government representatives.

Date: 2008-09-11
Topic: Energy (Natural Gas & Oil)
Subject: International affairs
Reuniting Families Act - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to establish the fiscal year worldwide level of employment-based immigrants at 140,000 plus: (1) the previous year's unused visas; and (2) the number of unused visas from FY1992-FY2007. Establishes the fiscal year worldwide level of family-sponsored immigrants at 480,000 plus: (1) the previous year's unused visas; and (2) the number of unused visas from FY1992-FY2007. Revises the definition of "immediate relative" to: (1) mean a child, spouse, or parent of a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident (and for each family member of a citizen or resident, such individual's accompanying spouse or child), except that in the case of parents such citizens shall be at least 21 years old; (2) permit a widow or widower of a U.S. citizen or resident to seek permanent resident status if married at least two years at the time of the citizen's or resident's death or, if married less than two years, by showing through a preponderance of the evidence that the marriage was entered into in good faith and not solely to obtain an immigration benefit; and (3) include an alien who was the child or parent of a U.S. citizen or resident at the time of the citizen's or resident's death if the alien files a petition within two years after such date or prior to reaching 21 years old. Increases immigration visas for: (1) unmarried sons and daughters of U.S. citizens; and (2) brothers and sisters of U.S. citizens. Provides a 60,000 visa allocation for the unmarried sons and daughters of permanent resident aliens. Increases annual per country (10% of annual total) and dependent area (5% of annual total) limits for employment-based and family-sponsored immigrant visas. Expands specified family-unity exceptions to unlawful presence-based inadmissibility. Provides specified relief for orphans and spouses regarding: (1) petitions for immediate relative status; (2) parole eligibility; (3) permanent resident status adjustment; and (4) processing of immigrant visas. Exempts children of naturalized Filipino World War II veterans from worldwide or numerical immigrant limitations.

Date: 2008-09-18
Topic: Energy (Natural Gas & Oil)
Subject: Immigration
Global Food Security Act of 2008 - States that is U.S. policy to promote global food security, improve agricultural productivity, and support the development of institutions of higher learning. Directs the President to designate an individual to serve as the Special Coordinator for Food Security to advise the President on international food security issues and oversee implementation of a comprehensive food security strategy. Amends the the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to authorize appropriations for programs of agriculture, rural development, and nutrition. Permits certain of such funds to be made available for: (1) the collaborative research support program; and (2) the consultative group on international agricultural research. Establishes: (1) the higher education collaboration for technology, agriculture, research, and extension to provide assistance for policies and programs in eligible countries that advance agricultural productivity and hunger alleviation through partnerships with institutions of higher education; (2) the Board for Global Agricultural Education; and (3) a United States Emergency Food Assistance Fund.

Date: 2008-09-22
Topic: Energy (Natural Gas & Oil)
Subject: International affairs
Directs the Secretary of the Interior to establish within the Department of the Interior the Minerals Management Service (MMS), to be headed by a Director appointed by the President, by and with the consent of the Senate. (The MMS currently exists, but its Director is appointed by the Secretary.) Requires the Director to ensure that the MMS implements comprehensive financial audits of royalty payments and adjustments. Requires the Director to issue requirements that: (1) MMS employees conducting audits and compliance reviews meet specified auditor qualifications; and (2) MMS-conducted audits reflect the latest revision of the Government Auditing Standards published by the Government Accountability Office. Directs the Inspector General of the Department to audit and report annually to certain congressional committees on MMS activities, including leasing and royalty activities. Requires the Secretary to certify to Congress that all Inspector General recommendations as a result of specified investigations of the royalty-in-kind program have been implemented. Directs the Secretary to certify annually to Congress that the royalty-in-kind program is in full compliance with federal law governing procurement and ethics.Suspends, for a specified period, the authority of the Secretary to implement each royalty-in-kind program if the Secretary fails to meet the annual certification deadline.

Date: 2008-09-24
Topic: Energy (Natural Gas & Oil)
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
American Energy Independence and Price Reduction Act - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to implement a competitive leasing program for the exploration, development, and production of the oil and gas resources on the Coastal Plain of Alaska. Amends the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act of 1980 to repeal the prohibition against leasing or other development leading to production of oil and gas from the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). Deems any oil and gas leasing programs and activities authorized by this Act to be in compliance with ANWR purposes. Authorizes the Secretary to designate up to 45,000 acres of the Coastal Plain as a Special Area, after consultation with the state of Alaska, the city of Kaktovik, and the North Slope Borough. Permits directional drilling in the Special Area. Prescribes procedures governing Coastal Plain lease sales, as well as terms and conditions, including: (1) environmental protection; (2) federal and state distribution of revenues; (3) rights-of-way; and (4) local government impact aid and community service assistance. Sets forth: (1) a "no significant adverse effect" standard to govern Coastal Plain activities; and (2) guidelines for expedited judicial review of complaints. Establishes the ANWR Alternative Energy Trust Fund.

Date: 2009-01-06
Topic: Energy (Natural Gas & Oil)
Subject: Energy
Northern California Ocean and Coastal Protection Act - Prohibits oil and gas preleasing, leasing, and related activities in areas of the Outer Continental Shelf located off the coast of Mendocino, Humboldt, and Del Norte Counties in the state of California.Amends the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to exclude such areas from a mandatory inventory of reserves in the Outer Continental Shelf.

Date: 2009-01-06
Topic: Energy (Natural Gas & Oil)
Subject: Energy
Marginal Well Production Preservation and Enhancement Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) increase to 27.5% the percentage depletion allowance for domestic crude oil and natural gas production from marginal properties; (2) extend through 2010 the temporary suspension of the taxable income limit with respect to marginal production of crude oil and natural gas; and (3) accelerate to three years the recovery period of qualified tertiary injectant property for depreciation purposes. Amends the Clean Air Act with respect to emissions from small oil and gas exploration and production-related equipment. Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to: (1) amend the definition of "wastewater treatment facility" to include produced water from an oil production facility; and (2) require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish cost-effective minimal requirements for the prevention of oil and hazardous substance discharges for small facilities with oil storage capacities of less than 50,000 gallons at which no single tank exceeds a nominal capacity of 21,000 gallons.

Date: 2009-01-21
Topic: Energy (Natural Gas & Oil)
Subject: Taxation
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to make permanent the suspension of the taxable income limitation on percentage depletion for oil and natural gas produced from marginal properties.

Date: 2009-01-21
Topic: Energy (Natural Gas & Oil)
Subject: Taxation
Maximize Offshore Resource Exploration Act of 2008 or the MORE Act of 2008 - Declares without force or effect all federal prohibitions against the expenditure of appropriated funds to conduct natural gas leasing and preleasing activities for any area of the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). Revokes all withdrawals of federal submerged lands from leasing for oil and natural gas exploration and production. Amends the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to prohibit the Secretary of the Interior from granting an oil or natural gas lease for any OCS located within 25 miles of a state coastline unless the state has enacted a law approving the issuance of such leases by the Sectretary. Sets forth an allocation schedule for a 75% state share of revenues derived from U.S. royalties under qualified oil and gas leases on submerged lands located within the seaward boundaries of a state. Extends the jurisdiction of state civil and criminal law, as appropriate, to the Alaska, Pacific, Gulf of Mexico, and Atlantic OCS Region State Adjacent Zones and OCS Planning Areas. Establishes a separate account in the Treasury to be known as the Renewable Energy Reserve, consisting of 12.5% of revenues derived from U.S. royalties under such oil and gas leases. Makes the Reserve available to offset the cost of subsequently enacted legislation to: (1) accelerate the use of cleaner domestic energy resources and alternative fuels; (2) promote the utilization of energy-efficient products and practices; and (3) increase research, development, and deployment of clean renewable energy and efficiency technologies and job training programs for those purposes.

Date: 2009-02-03
Topic: Energy (Natural Gas & Oil)
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Requires any advertisement for any model of automobile or light duty truck to include the Environmental Protection Agency's Combined Miles Per Gallon Rating, City Miles Per Gallon Rating, Highway Miles Per Gallon Rating MPG, and Estimated Annual Fuel Cost Rating for that model. Treats a violation as an unfair or deceptive act or practice under the Federal Trade Commission Act and requires the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to enforce this Act.

Date: 2009-02-03
Topic: Energy (Natural Gas & Oil)
Subject: Energy
Renewable Fuel Pipelines Act of 2009 - Amends the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to allow federally-guaranteed loans for renewable fuel pipeline construction without regard to whether an appropriation for the cost has been made. Includes ethanol and biodiesel as renewable fuel. Allows a maximum guarantee by the Secretary of Energy of 90% of the project cost and more than one guarantee for a project (as long as the total guaranteed amount does not exceed 90%). Sets forth factors to be considered in guarantee determinations, including volume and quality of fuel, size of markets served, experience of the entity working with renewable fuel, and associated storage, production, and terminal facilities. Authorizes an entity implementing a fuel pipeline project for which a guarantee is made, when such entity is unable to acquire the necessary right-of-way to construct, operate, and maintain pipelines and the necessary land or property for the location of pump stations, pressure apparatus, and other necessary facilities or equipment by contract, to acquire what is necessary through eminent domain if determined by the Secretary to be necessary or desirable in the public interest. Authorizes the Secretary to provide grants for renewable fuel pipeline projects to assist in carrying out permit acquisition, planning, and other preparatory activities in advance of participation in the guarantee program. Limits the sum of grants and amounts guaranteed for a project that receives both to 90% of the project's cost.

Date: 2009-02-04
Topic: Energy (Natural Gas & Oil)
Subject: Energy
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that the taxable income limitation on percentage depletion for oil and natural gas produced from marginal properties shall not apply in 2008.

Date: 2009-02-04
Topic: Energy (Natural Gas & Oil)
Subject: Taxation
Confers exclusive jurisdiction upon the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to hear causes and claims arising from a covered energy project, any action or decision by a federal official regarding: (1) leasing federal lands for the exploration, development, production, processing, or transmission of any source or form of energy; (2) actions and decisions regarding the selection or offering of federal lands for such leasing; or (3) any action under such a lease. Bars any cause or claim not filed within a 60-day period for filing a complaint. Prescribes a 180-day deadline for court resolution of a complaint or cause of action. Declares that such a complaint or cause of action shall take precedence over all other pending matters before the District Court. Restricts to the Supreme Court any judicial review of an interlocutory or final judgment, decree, or order of the district court. Prescribes a 180-day deadline for Supreme Court resolution of such a matter. Declares that all such proceedings shall take precedence over all other matters then before the Supreme Court.

Date: 2009-02-04
Topic: Energy (Natural Gas & Oil)
Subject: Law
Grow American Supply Act - Amends the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) with respect to Adjacent Zones and Planning Areas in the outer Continental Shelf (OCS) subsoil and seabed. Revises procedures governing natural gas lease administration. Requires deposit of a portion of OCS receipts from certain new leases into a Special Dedicated Account in the Social Security Trust Fund to reduce Social Security debt. Establishes the Deficit Reduction Trust Fund to accept specified OCS receipts to reduce the federal debt. Prohibits oil and gas leasing east of the Military Mission Line. Cites conditions for granting a federal permit to construct a crude oil or petroleum products pipeline without adjacent state concurrence within the part of the adjacent state's Adjacent Zone that is withdrawn from oil and gas or natural gas leasing. Exempts lease suspensions and preliminary activities on OCS tracts from the requirement to prepare statutory environmental assessments or impact statements. Prohibits construction or operation of any facility, or designation or maintainance of a restricted transportation corridor or operating area, on the federal OCS or in state waters that will be incompatible with oil and gas or natural gas leasing and substantially full exploration and production of tracts that are geologically prospective for oil or natural gas. Requires the Secretary of the Interior to repurchase and cancel specified leases. Amends the Mineral Leasing Act to revise regulations governing onshore surface-disturbing activities. Rigs to Reefs Act of 2009 - Amends OCSLA to prescribe requirements for the use of decommissioned offshore oil and gas platforms for artificial reefs. Instructs the Secretary to establish: (1) OCS regional headquarters for the Atlantic and the Pacific OCS region; and (2) Federal OCS Joint Regional Permitting Offices. Amends the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to set royalty rates for leases for oil shale and tar sands. Repeals the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006. Amends the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to require regulations that promote: (1) production of natural gas from gas hydrates; and (2) enhanced oil and natural gas production through carbon dioxide injection. Sets forth: (1) minimum rental rates for future oil, gas, and coal federal leases; and (2) onshore oil and gas royalties.

Date: 2009-02-23
Topic: Energy (Natural Gas & Oil)
Subject: Energy
Developing Resources Immediately and Long-Term through Leases on Our Nation's Offshore Waters Act of 2009 or DRILL NOW Act of 2009 - Amends the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) to revoke existing presidential authority to withdraw any unleased lands of the outer Continental Shelf (OCS) from disposition for exploration, development, or production of oil and gas, except as necessary for national security. Prohibits the President from making any such withdrawals. Authorizes a state governor to petition the Secretary of the Interior to issue leases for oil and natural gas exploration and extraction in any area within 50 miles of the coastline of the state and the lateral seaward boundaries of the state extended. Prohibits the Secretary from approving a petition for a drilling activity: (1) unless the state enacts a statute authorizing the issuance of leases; (2) if it would conflict with a military operation or national security; or (3) in any area withdrawn for national security purposes. Instructs the Secretary of the Treasury to deposit 30% of qualified revenues into a separate Clean and Alternative Energy Fund in the Treasury, to be made available to the Secretary of Energy for grants for research and development of clean and alternative energy. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to: (1) deposit into the Clean and Alternative Energy Fund 30% of any funds that would be received by the United States as royalties under any existing federal OCS oil and gas lease of an area located within 50 miles of the coastal zone of the states of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, or Alabama; and (2) pay 40% of such funds in proportional amounts to states with respect to which a lease tract is located in such an area.

Date: 2009-02-24
Topic: Energy (Natural Gas & Oil)
Subject: Energy
Consumer Reasonable Energy Price Protection Act of 2009 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose a windfall profit tax on crude oil, natural gas, or fuel which is the product of crude oil or natural gas. Defines "windfall profit" as so much of the profit as exceeds a reasonable profit. Establishes a Reasonable Profits Board to determine reasonable profit. Dedicates the proceeds of such tax to the low-income home energy assistance program.

Date: 2009-03-12
Topic: Energy (Natural Gas & Oil)
Subject: Taxation
Directs the Secretary of Energy to establish a research pilot program for awarding grants to certain partnerships to improve education and training in support of applied sciences in renewable energy as part of a comprehensive program to enhance the quality of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics instruction at the secondary school and undergraduate levels of education. Describes what activities grants may be used for and the types of partnerships to which grants shall be awarded.

Date: 2009-03-12
Topic: Energy (Natural Gas & Oil)
Subject: Education
Directs the Secretary of Energy (DOE) to: (1) conduct a five-year program of natural gas vehicle research, development, and demonstration; (2) coordinate with the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regarding such program; (3) coordinate with the natural gas vehicle industry to ensure cooperation between the public and the private sector; and (4) report to Congress on implementing such program. Includes among program objectives: (1) the continued improvement and development of new, cleaner, more efficient light-, medium-, and heavy-duty natural gas vehicle engines for onroad and offroad applications; (2) the development and improvement of nationally recognized standards for the safe operation of natural gas vehicles and their components; (3) improvement in the reliability and efficiency of, and certification of, natural gas fueling station infrastructure; (4) the improvement of existing natural gas fuel storage systems and the development of new storage materials; and (5) the use of natural gas engines in hybrid vehicles. Authorizes appropriations.

Date: 2009-03-19
Topic: Energy (Natural Gas & Oil)
Subject: Energy
Energy Efficient Manufactured Housing Act of 2009 - Authorizes the Secretary of Energy to make grants to state agencies responsible for developing state energy conservation plans under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to provide owners of manufactured homes constructed prior to 1976 rebates to use toward purchases of new Energy Star qualified manufactured homes. Restricts rebates to owners of manufactured homes that are used on a year-round basis as a primary residence and that will be destroyed (including appropriate recycling) and replaced, in the same general location, with an Energy Star qualified manufactured home. Limits rebates to: (1) one owner per household; (2) households with total incomes not exceeding 200% of the federal poverty level in the applicable area; and (3) $7,500 per manufactured home. Directs the Secretary to seek to achieve the purpose of this Act through similar federal programs, including: (1) the Weatherization Assistance Program; and (2) the Department of Energys (DOEs) State Energy Program.

Date: 2009-03-26
Topic: Energy (Natural Gas & Oil)
Subject: Housing and community development
New Options Petroleum Energy Conservation Act of 2009 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a tax credit for investment in a climate neutral combustion facility. Defines "climate neutral combustion facility" as any facility which: (1) burns matter to produce electricity; (2) captures and uses carbon dioxide released during combustion to recover hydrocarbon fuel; and (3) produces no emissions of mercury or greenhouse gasses and no emissions that form fine particulate, smog, or acid rain. Makes permanent the tax credits for investment in solar energy property and for residential energy efficient property expenditures. Directs the Secretary of Energy to establish a program to award $1 billion to the first U.S. automobile manufacturer who manufactures and sells in the United States 60,000 midsized sedans which operate on gasoline and can travel at 100 miles per gallon. Authorizes appropriations for the development of advanced lithium ion battery technology. Allows a taxpayer election to expense biofuel refining property.

Date: 2009-03-30
Topic: Energy (Natural Gas & Oil)
Subject: Energy
Getting Resources Efficiently and Effectively Now Act or the GREEN Act - Directs the President (or a designee) to review all projects for the exploration, development, or production of oil and gas resources under federal leases for lands (or submerged lands) located onshore or offshore to determine whether the projects comply with federal laws. Requires the projects to be approved and authorized to proceed upon a written finding by the President (or the designee) that they serve the public interest in responsible domestic oil and gas development and comply with federal laws. Shields decisions of the President from further administrative or judicial review, stay, or injunction, except with respect to an appeal filed by the applicant or permittee. Declares that the President's (or designee's) determinations pre-empt any state law.

Date: 2009-03-31
Topic: Energy (Natural Gas & Oil)
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Promoting New American Energy Act of 2009 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to classify as three-year property for depreciation purposes: (1) any industrial steam and electric generation and/or distribution system, electric utility nuclear or steam production plant, electric utility transmission and distribution plant, or electric utility combustion turbine production plant fueled by natural gas that is described in the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Revenue Procedure 87-56; (2) certain pollution control equipment; and (3) certain solar energy property.

Date: 2009-03-31
Topic: Energy (Natural Gas & Oil)
Subject: Taxation
Emergency Energy Cut the Red Tape Now Act of 2009 - Declares without force or effect all: (1) federal prohibitions against the leasing of federal Outer Continental Shelf, Bureau of Land Management, or National Forest lands or federal submerged lands for exploration, development, or production of oil, gas, or oil shale; (2) federal withdrawals of such lands from such leasing; or (3) federal prohibitions against the expenditure of federal funds for such leasing. Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to waive the application of any federal law that requires a permit to engage in drilling for oil or gas under a lease of federal lands or federal submerged lands during any period in which the most recent spot market price for West Texas Intermediate crude oil at the domestic spot market at Cushing, Oklahoma, is less than $100 per barrel. Requires such a waiver during any period in which the most recent spot price is greater than $100 per barrel. Requires the Department of Energy to act as the lead agency to coordinate all applicable federal refinery authorizations and related environmental reviews with respect to a designated refinery. Requires each federal and state agency or official required to provide a federal refinery authorization to cooperate with the Secretary of Energy and comply with deadlines the Secretary establishes. Requires the Secretary to establish a schedule for all federal refinery authorizations with respect to a designated refinery. Requires the Secretary to approve an application for a federal refinery authorization within 30 days after any failure of a federal or state administrative agency or official to complete an approval proceeding in accordance with the schedule established by the Secretary.

Date: 2009-03-31
Topic: Energy (Natural Gas & Oil)
Subject: Public lands and natural resources