Energy and Commerce Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and Energy Subcommittee Chairman Bobby Rush (D-IL) announced today that the Energy Subcommittee will hold a markup on Thursday, May 16 at 10 am in the John D. Dingell Room, 2123 of the Rayburn House Office Building. The Subcommittee will mark up legislation to improve energy efficiency, energy sector jobs and infrastructure security.
“With this Subcommittee markup, we are taking another step in fulfilling our promises to strengthen the economy and combat climate change," Pallone and Rush said. “These bills put consumers first by making our nation’s infrastructure more energy efficient, creating good-paying jobs and ensuring our pipelines and grid are secure and resilient."
The Subcommittee will consider the following bills:
H.R. 2088, a bill to amend the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to reauthorize the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program, introduced by Reps. Greg Stanton (D-AZ) and Marc Veasey (D-TX), would reauthorize the program to provide $3.5 billion annually from Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 through FY 2025. In addition, the bill includes a goal to diversify energy supplies by promoting use of alternative fuels.
H.R. 2041, the “Weatherization Enhancement and Local Energy Efficiency Investment and Accountability Act," introduced by Rep. Paul Tonko (D-NY), would reauthorize the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Weatherization Assistance Program at $350 million per year from FY 2020 through FY 2024. The bill would also establish a competitive grant program to support innovation in weatherization assistance.
H.R. 2119, a bill to amend the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to reauthorize grants for improving the energy efficiency of public buildings, introduced by Rep. Robin Kelly (D-IL), would authorize $100 million annually from FY 2021 through FY 2025 for an existing grant program, administered by DOE, that provides money for states to improve the energy efficiency of state and local public facilities. The program was previously authorized at $30 million per year.
H.R. 1315, the “Blue Collar to Green Collar Jobs Development Act of 2019," introduced by Chairman Bobby Rush (D-IL), would rename the Office of Minority Economic Impact in the Department of Energy as the Office of Economic Impact, Diversity, and Employment. The bill would require DOE to establish and implement a comprehensive nationwide program to improve education and training for jobs in energy-related industries.
H.R. 2665, the “Smart Energy and Water Efficiency Act of 2019," introduced by Reps. Jerry McNerney (D-CA) and Adam Kinzinger (R-IL), would establish a smart energy and water efficiency management program within DOE to award grants to entities that demonstrate advanced and innovative technology-based solutions.
H.R. 2044, the “Smart Building Acceleration Act," introduced by Reps. Peter Welch (D-VT) and Adam Kinzinger (R-IL), would require DOE to conduct a survey of smart buildings across the country, establish an initiative to implement smart building technology at one or more buildings under several Federal agencies, and develop a smart building initiative to demonstrate policies and approaches that facilitate the transition to smart buildings under the umbrella of the DOE Better Buildings Challenge.
H.R. 359, the “Enhancing Grid Security through Public-Private Partnerships Act," introduced by Reps. Jerry McNerney (D-CA) and Bob Latta (R-OH), would direct DOE to create and implement a program to enhance the physical and cyber security of electric utilities.
H.R. 360, the “Cyber Sense Act of 2019," introduced by Reps. Bob Latta (R-OH) and Jerry McNerney (D-CA), would require DOE to establish a voluntary Cyber Sense program to test the cybersecurity of products and technologies intended for use in the bulk-power system. The bulk-power system includes facilities and control systems necessary for operating an interconnected electric energy transmission network.
H.R. 362, the “Energy Emergency Leadership Act," introduced by Chairman Bobby Rush and Rep. Tim Walberg (R-MI), would create a new DOE Assistant Secretary position with jurisdiction over all energy emergency and security functions related to energy supply, infrastructure, and cybersecurity.
H.R. 370, the “Pipeline and LNG Facility Cybersecurity Preparedness Act," introduced by Reps. Fred Upton (R-MI) and Dave Loebsack (D-IA), would require DOE to implement a program to ensure the security, resiliency, and survivability of natural gas pipelines, hazardous liquid pipelines, and liquefied natural gas facilities.
Information for this markup, including the Committee Memorandum, electronic copies of the legislation, and a link to the live webcast will be posted HERE as they become available.
