,,ib ,union ,calendar ,no4 #gee #aahth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #edhb ,report ,no4 #aah-ibc1 ,part ,i ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,september #ad1 #bjbc,ms4 ,hageman 7for herself1 ,mr4 ,newhouse1 ,mr4 ,stauber1 ,ms4 ,boebert1 ,mr4 ,gosar1 ,mr4 ,cole1 ,mr4 ,williams of ,new ,york1 ,mr4 ,graves of ,louisiana1 ,mr4 ,hern1 ,mr4 ,donalds1 ,mr4 ,hunt1 ,mrs4 ,miller of ,west ,virginia1 and ,mr4 ,zinke7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,natural ,resources1 and in addition to the ,committees on ,energy and ,commerce1 ,agriculture1 the ,budget1 and ,rules1 for a period to be subsequently determined by the ,speaker1 in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned ,december #ah1 #bjbd;,additional sponsors3 ,mr4 ,babin1 ,mr4 ,langworthy1 ,mrs4 ,lesko1 ,mr4 ,moylan1 ,mr4 ,fallon1 and ,mr4 ,armstrong ,december #ah1 #bjbd,reported from the ,committee on ,natural ,resources with an amendment,strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic ,december #ah1 #bjbd ,committees on ,energy and ,commerce1 ,agriculture1 the ,budget1 and ,rules discharged2 committed to the ,committee of the ,whole ,house on the ,state of the ,union and ordered to be printed,for text of introduced bill1 see copy of bill as introduced on ,september #ad1 #bjbc ,a ,,bill ,to prevent energy poverty and ensure that at-risk communities have access to affordable energy4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,energy ,poverty ,prevention and ,accountability ,act of #bjbd4 #b4 ,sense of ,congress ,it is the sense of ,congress that-- 7#a7 all ,americans should have equal access to affordable and reliable energy to maintain personal health and economic security2 7#b7 the ,united ,states should mitigate the disparate impact of increases in the cost of energy on at-risk communities because those communities are more likely to have a fixed income and spend a higher percentage of their income on energy compared to the general population2 and 7#c7 to prevent energy poverty and ensure that each at-risk community has access to affordable energy1 the ,united ,states should ensure that ,federal policies will not increase the cost of energy for any at-risk community4 #c4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,agency ,the term agency has the meaning given the term in section #eea of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code4 7#b7 ,agency action ,the term agency action has the meaning given the term in section #eea of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code4 7#c7 ,at-risk community ,the term at-risk community means-- 7,a7 a low-income community2 7,b7 a minority community2 7,c7 a rural community2 7,d7 an elderly community2 or 7,e7 an ,american ,indian1 ,alaska ,native1 or ,native ,hawaiian community4 7#d7 ,elderly community ,the term elderly community means a census tract where the majority of the population consists of elderly persons 7as elderly person is defined in section #hia4bje of title #bd1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations 7as in effect on the date of the enactment of this ,act774 7#e7 ,energy poverty ,the term energy poverty means a condition in which individuals do not have access to affordable and reliable energy to maintain economic security4 7#f7 ,energy rule ,the term energy rule means a rule 7as such term is defined in section #eea of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code7-- 7,a7 promulgated by-- 7i7 the ,administrator of the ,environmental ,protection ,agency2 7ii7 the ,secretary of the ,interior2 7iii7 the ,secretary of ,agriculture2 7iv7 the ,secretary of ,energy2 or 7v7 any other agency the actions of which may affect energy poverty in an at-risk community2 and 7,b7 that may result in a change to-- 7i7 electricity prices2 7ii7 home heating prices2 7iii7 gasoline prices2 7iv7 oil prices2 7v7 motor vehicle prices2 7vi7 natural gas prices2 or 7vii7 household appliance prices4 7#g7 ,federal land 7,a7 ,in general ,the term ,federal land means-- 7i7 ,national ,forest ,system land2 7ii7 public lands 7as defined in section #ajc of the ,federal ,land ,policy and ,management ,act of #aigf 7#dc ,u4,s4,c4 #agjb772 7iii7 the outer ,continental ,shelf 7as defined in section #b of the ,outer ,continental ,shelf ,lands ,act 7#dc ,u4,s4,c4 #acca772 and 7iv7 land managed by the ,department of ,energy4 7,b7 ,inclusion ,the term ,federal land includes land described in subparagraph 7,a7 for which the rights to the surface estate or subsurface estate are owned by a non-,federal entity4 7#h7 ,indian ,tribe ,the term ,indian ,tribe has the meaning given the term in section #d of the ,indian ,self-,determination and ,education ,assistance ,act 7#be ,u4,s4,c4 #ecjd74 7#i7 ,low-income community ,the term low-income community means-- 7,a7 a census block group in which the poverty rate for such block group is at least #bj percent2 7,b7 in the case of a block group not located within a metropolitan area1 the median family income for such block group does not exceed #hj percent of statewide median family income2 or 7,c7 in the case of a block group located within a metropolitan area1 the median family income for such block group does not exceed #hj percent of the greater of statewide median family income or the metropolitan area median family income 7as defined in section #de;,d7e7 of the ,internal ,revenue ,code of #aihf 7#bf ,u4,s4,c4 #de;,d7e774 7#aj7 ,minority community ,the term minority community means a census tract where the majority of the population consists of minority 7as defined in section #ajd;,a of the ,community ,development ,banking and ,financial ,institutions ,act of #aiid 7#ab ,u4,s4,c4 #dgjc;a77 individuals4 7#aa7 ,rural community ,the term rural community means a community that is located in an area that is outside of an urbanized area 7as defined in section #ecjb of title #di1 ,united ,states ,code74 7#ab7 ,state renewable portfolio standard ,the term ,state renewable portfolio standard means any ,state regulation that is designed to increase the use of renewable energy sources1 including wind1 solar1 geothermal1 and biomass1 to generate electricity4 7#ac7 ,tribal land ,the term ,tribal land has the meaning given the term ,indian land in section #bfja of the ,energy ,policy ,act of #aiib 7#be ,u4,s4,c4 #ceja74 #d4 ,reports on access to reliable and affordable energy 7a7 ,comptroller ,general ,the ,comptroller ,general of the ,united ,states1 in consultation with each relevant agency1 shall-- 7#a7 conduct an analysis of ,federal energy laws1 energy rules1 and ,state renewable portfolio standards to determine how those laws1 rules1 and standards affected at-risk communities during the preceding fiscal year1 and if those laws1 rules1 and standards created disproportionate financial impacts on at-risk communities relative to the general population2 7#b7 identify barriers to the ability of at-risk communities to access reliable and affordable energy1 including the manner in which the presence of adequate energy transmission infrastructure affects that access2 and 7#c7 develop criteria to determine whether an at-risk community is experiencing energy poverty4 7b7 ,report ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,comptroller ,general of the ,united ,states shall submit to ,congress a report that-- 7#a7 describes the analysis conducted under subsection 7a77#a7 and the barriers identified under subsection 7a77#b72 7#b7 identifies the at-risk communities that are experiencing energy poverty1 by location and type2 and 7#c7 provides recommendations on-- 7,a7 how to reduce energy poverty in at-risk communities2 and 7,b7 actions each applicable agency may take to reduce the barriers described in subsection 7a77#b71 including by-- 7i7 rescinding or modifying energy rules2 7ii7 establishing lower fees or lowering other costs2 7iii7 improving the approval process for rights-of-way on ,federal land and ,tribal land2 7iv7 increasing energy production on ,federal lands2 7v7 encouraging private energy sector investment in ,federal land and ,tribal land2 and 7vi7 improving grid resilience in remote areas4 #e4 ,executive activities supporting at-risk communities 7a7 ,congressional ,budget ,office estimates for effects on energy prices ,for purposes of section #djb of the ,congressional ,budget and ,impoundment ,control ,act of #aigd 7#b ,u4,s4,c4 #fec71 the ,director of the ,congressional ,budget ,office shall include in any bill or resolution that could result in an agency action affecting energy poverty1 including the proposal of an energy rule1 an estimate of how the bill or resolution will affect the cost of energy for at-risk communities4 7b7 ,energy poverty study required for certain executive activities 7#a7 ,definitions ,in this subsection3 7,a7 ,activity ,the term activity means-- 7i7 a declaration of a moratorium on the leasing of ,federal land for the drilling1 mining1 or collection of oil1 gas1 or coal1 or related activities unless such moratorium is authorized by ,federal statute2 or 7ii7 an action 7including non-action with respect to an action directed to be carried out by statute or regulation7 that prohibits or delays1 with respect to ,federal land-- 7,i7 the issuance of-- 7aa7 new oil and gas or geothermal lease sales1 oil and gas or geothermal leases1 drill permits1 or associated approvals1 or authorizations of any kind associated with oil and gas or geothermal leases2 7bb7 new coal leases 7including leases by application in process1 renewals1 modifications1 or expansions of existing leases71 permits1 approvals1 or authorizations2 or 7cc7 new mineral patents1 leases1 claims1 permits1 approvals1 or authorizations2 or 7,,ii7 a withdrawal of ,federal land from-- 7aa7 forms of entry1 appropriation1 or disposal under the public land laws2 7bb7 location1 entry1 and patent under the mining laws2 or 7cc7 disposition under laws pertaining to mineral and geothermal leasing or mineral materials4 7,b7 ,designee of the ,president ,the term designee of the ,president means-- 7i7 the ,secretary of ,agriculture2 7ii7 the ,secretary of ,energy2 7iii7 the ,secretary of the ,interior2 and 7iv7 the ,administrator of the ,environmental ,protection ,agency4 7,c7 ,mineral ,the term mineral means any mineral subject to sections #bcai through #bcdd of the ,revised ,statutes 7commonly known as the ,mining ,law of #ahgb7 7#cj ,u4,s4,c4 #bb et seq471 and minerals located on lands acquired by the ,united ,states 7as defined in section #b of the ,mineral ,leasing ,act for ,acquired ,lands 7#cj ,u4,s4,c4 #cea774 7#b7 ,activity to be carried out ,notwithstanding any other provision of law1 the ,president1 or a designee of the ,president1 may carry out an activity only if the ,secretary of the ,interior has fulfilled the activity requirements described in paragraph 7#c7 for that activity4 7#c7 ,activity requirements ,for each activity1 the ,secretary of the ,interior shall-- 7,a7 conduct a study to determine if the activity1 relative to the general population1 is likely to-- 7i7 impose disproportionate financial impacts on at-risk communities2 or 7ii7 increase the likelihood that at-risk communities will experience energy poverty and job losses2 7,b7 publish the study on a public website of the ,department of the ,interior2 and 7,c7 submit to ,congress a report on the study that describes the study findings under subparagraph 7,a74 7#d7 ,energy poverty study 7,a7 ,in general ,on request by an entity described in subparagraph 7,b71 a lead agency responsible for leasing or permitting an energy or mineral development project1 pipeline project1 or transmission project on ,federal land1 in consultation with another agency with jurisdiction over that project1 shall conduct a study relating to how the project is likely to alleviate energy poverty in at-risk communities1 including by-- 7i7 creating jobs2 7ii7 reducing energy prices2 and 7iii7 other relevant measures as determined by the lead agency1 or the entity requesting the study4 7,b7 ,study request ,an entity sponsoring an energy or mineral project1 pipeline project1 or transmission project on ,federal land may request a study for that project pursuant to subparagraph 7,a74 7#e7 ,memorandum of understanding 7,a7 ,in general ,the lead agency1 with respect to a project to be studied under paragraph 7#d77;,a71 may not begin the study until the lead agency has entered into a memorandum of understanding with the entity that requested the study4 7,b7 ,requirements ,a memorandum of understanding entered into under this paragraph shall include-- 7i7 an agreement regarding a neutral third party to conduct the study2 7ii7 a determination of which entity1 with the consent of that entity1 will bear the cost of the study1 which may include stakeholders other than the requestor2 and 7iii7 such other aspects of the study that the lead agency and the entity that requested the study consider appropriate4 7c7 ,energy poverty statement 7#a7 ,in general ,beginning #cj days after the date on which the ,director of the ,office of ,management and ,budget issues guidance under section #f1 an agency promulgating any energy rule 7including an interpretative rule71 general statement of policy1 development or revision of a resource management plan 7or equivalent document71 handbook or manual revision1 or guidance document shall-- 7,a7 certify that the agency has determined the rule1 policy1 plan1 revision1 or guidance will not result in short-term or long-term energy poverty in at-risk communities2 and 7,b7 include an energy poverty statement described in paragraph 7#b74 7#b7 ,energy poverty statement ,an energy poverty statement referred to in paragraph 7#a7 shall-- 7,a7 be displayed prominently on the first page of the rule1 policy1 plan1 revision1 or guidance document2 and 7,b7 include a justification for the determination made under paragraph 7#a77;,a74 #f4 ,,omb implementation guidance ,not later than #ij days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,director of the ,office of ,management and ,budget shall issue guidance to implement this ,act4 ,december #ah1 #bjbd,reported from the ,committee on ,natural ,resources with an amendment,december #ah1 #bjbd ,committees on ,energy and ,commerce1 ,agriculture1 the ,budget1 and ,rules discharged2 committed to the ,committee of the ,whole ,house on the ,state of the ,union and ordered to be printed