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618 records in US in 2009
United States · United States Congress · 7 January 2009
LIHEAP Equity Act of 2009 - Amends the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981 governing state allotments under the low-income energy assistance program (LIHEAP) to limit to 50% the earmark for home heating purposes of amounts appropriated for program implementation.
United States · United States Congress · 7 January 2009
21st Century Energy Independence Act of 2009 - Instructs the Secretary of Energy to seek to ensure: (1) the availability of 200% of the volume of renewable fuels required to be available in the United States by 2013 under the Energy Policy Act of 2005; and (2) the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions from the production and use of renewable fuels by 25%. Directs the Secretary to establish a loan guarantee program for up to 80% of the cost of a project for: (1) the harvesting, storing, and delivery of agriculture residues for use in cellulosic or traditional ethanol production plants; (2) cellulosic ethanol production technologies that will reduce the initial capital cost to $2.50 per annual gallon, and operation and maintenance costs to 125% of those at traditional corn ethanol plants; (3) advanced biomass gasifiers that can provide specified thermal input requirements for traditional ethanol plants to produce syngas; and (4) scaled catalytic conversion projects to convert syngas to liquid fuels. Permits such loan guarantees for: (1) a traditional ethanol plant only if the agriculture residue products are used as feedstock to replace thermal input requirements otherwise provided by fossil fuels; and (2) an existing ethanol plant only if the applicant demonstrates the potential to reduce carbon dioxide emissions related to ethanol production by at least 75%. Authorizes the Secretary to provide grants for up to 50% of the capital costs of the initial commercialization for certain cellulosic ethanol production technologies.
United States · United States Congress · 7 January 2009
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that, in order to meet our nation's growing long-term energy demands and maintain our economic viability in the world marketplace, any comprehensive and economically viable energy bill must address: (1) expanded use of renewable and alternative energy sources; (2) increased domestic refining capacity; (3) promotion and incentivization of increased conservation and energy efficiency; (4) expansion and promotion of additional research and development through methods such as public-private partnerships; and (5) enhanced consumer awareness and education regarding methods to increase energy efficiency and available alternative fuel sources.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 2009
Green Energy Production Act of 2009 - Establishes in the Department of Energy (DOE) the Green Technology Investment Corporation to allocate funds, provide grants, and carry out programs for all phases of technology commercialization. Requires the Corporation to establish: (1) ) a green redevelopment, opportunity, and workforce (GROW) grant program (2) a green energy technology internship program; and (3) a green energy technology apprenticeship program. Establishes in the Treasury the Green Technology Investment Fund to provide grants, loans, and assistance under this Act. Sets forth criteria for project eligibility and priority and applicant eligibility for grants, loans, and assistance under this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 2009
Cleaner, Greener, and Smarter Act of 2009 - Calls for the enactment of legislation to improve the economy and the security of the United States by reducing U.S. dependence on foreign and unsustainable energy sources and the risks of global warming by: (1) making and encouraging significant investments in green job creation and clean energy across the economy; (2) diversifying and rapidly expanding the use of secure, efficient, and environmentally friendly energy supplies and technologies; (3) transforming U.S. infrastructure to make the infrastructure sustainable and the United States more competitive globally, including transmission grid modernization and transportation sector electrification; (4) requiring reductions in emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) in the United States and achieving reductions in emissions of GHGs abroad; (5) protecting consumers from volatile energy prices through better market oversight and enhanced energy efficiency standards and incentives; and (6) eliminating wasteful and unnecessary tax breaks and giveaways that fail to move the United States toward a more competitive and cleaner energy future.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 2009
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 - Calls for the enactment of legislation to create jobs, restore economic growth, and strengthen America's middle class through measures that: (1) modernize the nation's infrastructure; (2) enhance America's energy independence; (3) expand educational opportunities; (4) preserve and improve affordable health care; (5) provide tax relief; and (6) protect those in greatest need.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 2009
Amends the Federal Power Act and the Natural Gas Act to direct the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to hold at least one public hearing in each affected county and locality before issuing any authorization for action that may affect public or private land use (other than federal land). Requires FERC to hold one additional public hearing after the initial one if the government of such county or locality requests it in order to address an issue not addressed at the initial hearing.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 2009
Expresses the Senate's: (1) solidarity with Israel as it takes necessary steps to provide security to its people and commitment to Israel's right to self-defense; and (2) commitment to promote economic relations and partnerships in technology and alternative energy between the United States and Israel in order to stimulate both countries' economies in this time of crisis. Condemns the firing of rockets into civilian areas by the terrorist groups of Hamas and the Islamic Jihad. Urges: (1) all Arab states to declare strong opposition to terrorism and terrorist attacks on civilians; and (2) all parties in the Middle East to pursue regional peace.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 2009
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.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 2009
EEOICPA Ombudsman Extension and Enhancement Act of 2009 - Amends the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act of 2000 (EEOICPA) to: (1) make permanent the authority of the Office of the Ombudsman of the Department of Labor; and (2) increase the duties of the Ombudsman under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program, including to assist in making claims for benefits for Department of Energy (DOE) contractor employees who have contracted a covered illness through exposure at a DOE facility and to act as an advocate for such employees in appropriate cases.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 2009
Amends the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act of 2000 to include within the meaning of the term “member of the Special Exposure Cohort” a Department of Energy (DOE) employee, DOE contractor employee, or atomic weapons employee who was so employed for a number of work days aggregating at least 250 work days before January 1, 2006, at the Santa Susana Field Laboratory in California. Provides that a claim that an individual qualifies for compensation or benefits under such Act shall be considered notwithstanding any denial of any other claim for compensation with respect to such individual.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 2009
Authorizes a contract for renewable energy public utility services for an executive agency to be made for up to 30 years (a contract for public utility services is limited to 10 years).
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 2009
Smarter Funding for All of America's Homeland Security Act of 2007 [ sic ] - Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish a State and Regional First Responder Grant Program under which the Secretary may make grants to states and eligible regional entities on the basis of the threat to a state or region's population and critical infrastructure, as determined by the Under Secretary for Information Analysis and Infrastructure Protection. Requires the Secretary, acting through the Under Secretary, to evaluate and prioritize grant applications, considering factors such as threats to the population, specific economic sectors, major communications nodes and transportation systems, specific elements of the food supply, the water and energy supplies, civic infrastructure and emergency response capabilities, and specific structures of symbolic national importance. Bars the use of grant funds to supplant state or local funds that would otherwise be available for homeland security or first responder projects. Directs the Secretary to: (1) establish the Advisory Council on First Responders, which shall report to the Secretary through the head of the Office of State and Local Government Coordination; and (2) revise the Homeland Security Advisory System to require that any designation of a threat level or other warning be accompanied by a designation of the geographic regions and economic sectors to which it applies. Directs the Under Secretary for Science and Technology to conduct a study of whether there is a need to assign additional bands of frequencies of electromagnetic spectrum to assist first responders.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 2009
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.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 2009
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.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 2009
Directs the Secretary of Energy to enter into an arrangement with the National Academy of Sciences to: (1) develop recommendations for evaluation measures and criteria for programs under this Act; and (2) evaluate the feasibility of prize and best practices award programs as tools to promote self-powered farms. Directs the Secretary to: (1) establish a research and technology grant program for self-powered farm development; (2) establish an award program for up to 30 state agricultural research programs for self-powered farm demonstrations; (3) provide low-cost revolving loans and loan guarantees for the commercial application of energy or other technologies that will contribute to establishing self-powered farms, with preference given to applicants who propose to meet their energy needs from biobased feedstocks or other renewable farm-produced energy sources; and (4) enter into an arrangement with the National Academy of Sciences for a review of the programs under this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 2009
Declares the sense of the House of Representatives that, in order to keep energy costs affordable, curb our environmental impact, and safeguard economic prosperity, including our trade deficit, the United States must move rapidly to: (1) increase the productivity with which it uses fossil fuel; and (2) accelerate the transition to renewable fuels and a sustainable, clean energy economy. Urges the United States, in collaboration with other international allies, to establish an energy project with the magnitude, creativity, and sense of urgency of the "Man on the Moon" project to develop a comprehensive plan to address the challenges presented by Peak Oil.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 2009
Adopts the Rules of the House of Representatives for the 110th Congress as the Rules for the 111th Congress, with amendments. Requires the House Inspector General to provide investigative and advisory services to the House and joint entities in a manner consistent with government-wide standards. Requires the Committee on Homeland Security to review and study on a primary and continuing basis all government activities, programs, and organizations related to homeland security that fall within its primary legislative jurisdiction. Requires the Committee on House Administration to oversee the management of services provided to the House by the Architect of the Capitol (AOC), except those that lie within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Allows a Member to exceed the tenure limitation for Members on the Budget Committee if elected to serve a second consecutive Congress as the chair or as the ranking minority member. Eliminates the term limit for all committee and subcommittee chairs and ranking minority members. Requires a committee's chair or other authorized member to announce to the House a request for the Call of the Calendar Wednesday on the preceding legislative day. Authorizes the Chair to postpone further consideration of a measure to a time designated by the Speaker when the previous question is operating to adoption or passage of pursuant to a special rule in the House. Permits a motion to recommit a bill or joint resolution to include instructions only in the form of a direction to report an amendment or amendments back to the House forthwith (that is, the House must report on the amended measure within minutes). Repeals the prohibition against, and thus allows, holding open a record vote by electronic device for the sole purpose of reversing the vote's outcome. Makes it out of order to consider any conference report to accompany a regular general appropriation bill unless the joint explanatory statement includes: (1) a list of congressional earmarks, limited tax benefits, and limited tariff benefits in the conference report or joint statement (and the name of any requesting Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, or Senator) that were neither committed to the conference committee by either House nor in a report of a committee of either House on such bill or on a companion measure; or (2) a statement that the proposition contains no congressional earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits. Revises the Pay-As-You Go (PAYGO) rules of the House with respect to Congressional Budget Office (CBO) baselines (in order to align the rules with Senate rules so that both chambers use the same CBO baselines). Allows one House-passed measure to pay for spending in a separate House-passed measure if the two are linked at the engrossment stage. Allows for emergency exceptions to PAYGO for provisions designated as emergency spending in a bill, a joint resolution, an amendment made in order as original text by a special order of business, a conference report, or an amendment between the chambers. Requires the Chair to put the question of consideration with respect to such a provision. Requires a PAYGO evaluation of any other amendments to a bill or joint resolution to disregard any designation of emergency. Revises the requirement that Members of Congress disclose negotiations for post-congressional employment by repealing the termination of such requirement upon the election of the Member's successor. Extends such disclosure requirement until the end of the departing Member's term. Replaces masculine references in the Rules of the House with gender neutral references. Continues from the 110th Congress certain similar budget-related separate orders. Waives Rule X, clause 5(d) to allow extra subcommittees for specified committees. Prohibits lobbyists from using the Member's exercise facilities. Reserves H.R. 1 through H.R. 10 for assignment by the Speaker. Declares that certain accelerated legislative procedures required by the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 (MPDIMA) for a presidential legislative proposal in response to a Medicare funding warning shall not apply during the 111th Congress. (The MPDIMA requires, in the event that 45% or more of Medicare’s funding comes from general tax revenues for two years in a row, that the president submit, and Congress debate, legislation to slow spending.) Establishes the House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming. Continues: (1) the House Democracy Assistance Commission; (2) the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission; (3) the Office of Congressional Ethics (treating such Office as a standing committee for purposes of hiring consultants); (4) the Empanelling Investigative Subcommittee of the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct; and (5) certain authorities of the Committee on the Judiciary and the Office of General Counsel with respect to the civil action Committee on the Judiciary v. Harriet Meirs et al. Sets forth the rule for consideration of H.R. 11 (Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act) and H.R. 12 (Paycheck Fairness Act).