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“SCHUMER (AND COLLINS) AMENDMENT NO. 4033” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Energy was published in the Senate section on pages S8027-S8028 on Sept. 5, 2000.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
SCHUMER (AND COLLINS) AMENDMENT NO. 4033
Mr. SCHUMER (for himself and Ms. Collins) proposed an amendment to the bill, H.R. 4733, supra; as follows:
On page 93, between lines 7 and 8, insert the following:
GENERAL PROVISIONS--INDEPENDENT AGENCIES
SEC. 4____. PRESIDENTIAL ENERGY COMMISSION.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
(1) crude oil and natural gas account for two-thirds of America's energy consumption;
(2) in May 2000, United States natural gas stocks totaled 1,450 billion cubic feet, 36 percent below the normal natural gas inventory of 2,281 billion cubic feet;
(3) in July 2000, United States crude oil inventories totaled 298,000,000 barrels, 11 percent below the 24-year average of 334,000,000 barrels;
(4) in June 2000, distillate fuel (heating oil and diesel fuel) inventories totaled 103,700,000 barrels, 26 percent below the 24-year average of 140,000,000 barrels;
(5) combined shortages in inventories of natural gas, crude oil, and distillate stocks, coupled with steady or increased demand, could cause supply and price shocks that would likely have a severe impact on consumers and the economy; and
(6) energy supply is a critical national security issue.
(b) Presidential Energy Commission.--
(1) Establishment.--
(A) In general.--The President shall establish, from among a group of not fewer than 30 persons recommended jointly by the Speaker and Minority Leader of the House of Representatives and the Majority Leader and Minority Leader of the Senate, a Presidential Energy Commission (referred to in this section as the ``Commission''), which shall consist of between 15 and 21 representatives from among the following categories:
(i) Oil and natural gas producing States.
(ii) States with no oil or natural gas production.
(iii) Oil and natural gas industries.
(iv) Consumer groups focused on energy issues.
(v) Environmental groups.
(vi) Experts and analysts familiar with the supply and demand characteristics of all energy sectors.
(vii) The Energy Information Administration.
(B) Timing.--The appointments of the members of the Commission shall be made not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act.
(C) Period of appointment.--Members shall be appointed for the life of the Commission. Any vacancy in the Commission shall not affect its powers, but shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.
(D) Chairperson.--The members of the Commission shall appoint 1 of the members to serve as Chairperson of the Commission.
(E) Initial meeting.--Not later than 30 days after the date on which all members of the Commission have been appointed, the Commission shall hold its first meeting.
(F) Meetings.--The Commission shall meet at the call of the Chairperson.
(2) Duties.--
(A) In general.--The Commission shall--
(i) conduct a study, focusing primarily on the oil and natural gas industries, of--
(I) the status of inventories of natural gas, crude oil, and distillate fuel in the United States, including trends and projections for those inventories;
(II) the causes for and consequences of energy supply disruptions and energy product shortages nationwide and in particular regions;
(III) ways in which the United States can become less dependent on foreign oil supplies;
(IV) ways in which the United States can better manage and utilize its domestic energy resources;
(V) ways in which alternative energy supplies can be used to reduce demand on traditional energy sectors;
(VI) ways in which the United States can reduce energy consumption;
(VII) the status of, problems with, and ways to improve--
(aa) transportation and delivery systems of energy resources to locations throughout the United States;
(bb) refinery capacity and utilization in the United States; and
(cc) natural gas, crude oil, distillate fuel, and other energy-related petroleum product storage in the United States; and
(VIII) any other energy-related topic that the Commission considers pertinent; and
(ii) not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, submit to the President and Congress a report that contains--
(I) a detailed statement of the findings and conclusions of the Commission; and
(II) the recommendations of the Commission for such legislation and administrative actions as the Commission considers appropriate.
(B) Time period.--The findings made, analyses conducted, conclusions reached, and recommendations developed by the Commission in connection with the study under subparagraph
(A) shall cover a period extending 10 years beyond the date of the report.
(c) Use of Funds.--The Secretary of Energy shall use
$500,000 of funds appropriated to the Department of Energy to fund the Commission.
(d) Termination of Commission.--The Commission shall terminate on the date that is 90 days after the date on which the Commission submits its report under subsection
(b)(2)(A)(ii).
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DeWINE AMENDMENT NO. 4034
(Ordered to lie on the table.)
Mr. DeWINE submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill, H.R. 4733, supra; as follows:
On page 90, between lines 6 and 7, insert the following:
Sec. 320. (a) Findings.--The Senate makes the following findings:
(1) The closure or downsizing of a Department of Energy facility can have serious economic impacts on communities that have been built around and in support of the facility.
(2) To mitigate the devastating impacts of the closure of Department of Energy facilities on surrounding communities, section 3161 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1993 (42 U.S.C. 7274h) provides a mechanism for the provision of financial assistance to such communities for redevelopment and to assist employees of such facilities in transferring to other employment.
(3) It is difficult to forecast necessary changes in the workforce at Department of Energy facilities in advance of the preparation of the budget for the Department of Energy given uncertainties regarding future budges, project schedules, and other factors.
(4) Limitations on the capacity of the Department of Energy to seek reprogramming of funds for worker and community assistance programs in response to the closure or downsizing of Department facilities undermines the capability of the Department to respond appropriately to unforeseen contingencies.
(b) Sense of Senate.--It is the sense of the Senate that, in agreeing to the conference report to accompany the bill H.R.4733 of the 106th Congress, the conferees on the part of the Senate should not recede to provisions or language proposed by the House of Representatives that would limit the capacity of the Department of Energy to augment funds available for worker and community assistance grants under section 3161 of the National Defense Authorization for Fiscal Year 1993 or under the provisions of the USEC Privatization Act (subchapter A of chapter 1 of title III of Public Law 104-134; 42 U.S.C. 2297h et seq.).
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DeWINE (AND LEVIN) AMENDMENT NO. 4035
(Ordered to lie on the table.)
Mr. DeWINE (for himself and Mr. Levin) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by them to the bill, H.R. 4733, supra; as follows:
On page 47, strike line 18 and insert the following:
$139,219,000, to remain available until expended, of which
$1,500,000 shall be made available to carry out activities under the John Glenn Great Lakes Basin Program established under section 455 of the Water Resources Development Act of 1999 (42 U.S.C. 1962d-21).
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