Federal Energy Management Improvement Act of 2005 - Amends the National Energy Conservation Policy Act (NECPA) to update energy reduction goals for federal buildings for FY2006-FY2015.
Cites conditions that exempt federal buildings from having to meet those goals.
Includes within NECPA purview Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP)-designated products and products rated for energy efficiency under an Energy Star program.
Prescribes procedural guidelines for mandatory procurement of energy efficient products by the head of an executive agency.
Prohibits all federal agencies combined from: (1) entering into more than a total of 100 Energy Savings Performance Contracts; and (2) making payments under all contracts which exceed a total of $500 million.
Requires each federal agency to appoint a coordinator for Energy Savings Performance Contracts to monitor the number of such contracts for that agency and the investment value of each contract.
Directs the President to seek to ensure that the total amount of electric energy consumed by the federal government during any fiscal year includes specified percentages of renewable energy.
Amends the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 to authorize the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to exempt from the federal civil service pension offset any annuitants with critical skills who were formerly a NRC employees but are hired as consultants.
Amends the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974 to extend whistleblower protections to employees of NRC contractors or subcontractors.
Allows federal agencies to qualify for a waiver of the requirement for the use of alternative fuels by dual-fueled vehicles in a particular geographic area where the alternative fuel is not reasonably available or its cost is unreasonably more expansive compared to gasoline.
Amends the Department of Energy Organization Act to create an additional Assistant Secretary position for management of nuclear energy issues.
Directs the Secretary of Energy to study and report to Congress on the energy conservation implications of the widespread adoption of telecommuting by federal employees in the United States.
[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1533 Introduced in House (IH)]
109th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1533
To ensure jobs for our future with secure and reliable energy.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 8, 2005
Mr. Tom Davis of Virginia (for himself and Mr. Waxman) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and
Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Government Reform, for a
period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for
consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the
committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To ensure jobs for our future with secure and reliable energy.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Federal Energy
Management Improvement Act of 2005''.
(a) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as
follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
TITLE I--ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Sec. 102. Energy management requirements.
Sec. 104. Procurement of energy efficient products.
Sec. 105. Energy Savings Performance Contracts.
TITLE II--RENEWABLE ENERGY
Sec. 203. Federal purchase requirement.
TITLE VI--NUCLEAR MATTERS
Sec. 624. Elimination of pension offset.
Sec. 632. Whistleblower protection.
TITLE VII--VEHICLES AND FUELS
Sec. 701. Use of alternative fuels by dual-fueled vehicles.
Sec. 704. Incremental cost allocation.
Sec. 707. Report concerning compliance with alternative fueled vehicle
purchasing requirements.
TITLE X--DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY MANAGEMENT
Sec. 1001. Additional Assistant Secretary position.
Sec. 1002. Other transactions authority.
TITLE XVI--STUDIES
Sec. 1606. Telecommuting study.
TITLE I--ENERGY EFFICIENCY
SEC. 102. ENERGY MANAGEMENT REQUIREMENTS.
(a) Energy Reduction Goals.--
(1) Amendment.--Section 543(a)(1) of the National Energy
Conservation Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 8253(a)(1)) is amended by
striking ``its Federal buildings so that'' and all that follows
through the end and inserting ``the Federal buildings of the
agency (including each industrial or laboratory facility) so
that the energy consumption per gross square foot of the
Federal buildings of the agency in fiscal years 2006 through
2015 is reduced, as compared with the energy consumption per
gross square foot of the Federal buildings of the agency in
fiscal year 2003, by the percentage specified in the following
table:
``Fiscal Year Percentage reduction
2006................................................... 2
2007................................................... 4
2008................................................... 6
2009................................................... 8
2010................................................... 10
2011................................................... 12
2012................................................... 14
2013................................................... 16
2014................................................... 18
2015................................................... 20.''.
(2) Reporting baseline.--The energy reduction goals and
baseline established in paragraph (1) of section 543(a) of the
National Energy Conservation Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 8253(a)(1)),
as amended by this subsection, supersede all previous goals and
baselines under such paragraph, and related reporting
requirements.
(b) Review and Revision of Energy Performance Requirement.--Section
543(a) of the National Energy Conservation Policy Act (42 U.S.C.
8253(a)) is further amended by adding at the end the following:
``(3) Not later than December 31, 2014, the Secretary shall review
the results of the implementation of the energy performance requirement
established under paragraph (1) and submit to Congress recommendations
concerning energy performance requirements for fiscal years 2016
through 2025.''.
(c) Exclusions.--Section 543(c)(1) of the National Energy
Conservation Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 8253(c)(1)) is amended by striking
``An agency may exclude'' and all that follows through the end and
inserting ``(A) An agency may exclude, from the energy performance
requirement for a fiscal year established under subsection (a) and the
energy management requirement established under subsection (b), any
Federal building or collection of Federal buildings, if the head of the
agency finds that--
``(i) compliance with those requirements would be
impracticable;
``(ii) the agency has completed and submitted all federally
required energy management reports;
``(iii) the agency has achieved compliance with the energy
efficiency requirements of this Act, the Energy Policy Act of
1992, Executive orders, and other Federal law; and
``(iv) the agency has implemented all practicable, life
cycle cost-effective projects with respect to the Federal
building or collection of Federal buildings to be excluded.
``(B) A finding of impracticability under subparagraph (A)(i) shall
be based on--
``(i) the energy intensiveness of activities carried out in
the Federal building or collection of Federal buildings; or
``(ii) the fact that the Federal building or collection of
Federal buildings is used in the performance of a national
security function.''.
(d) Review by Secretary.--Section 543(c)(2) of the National Energy
Conservation Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 8253(c)(2)) is amended--
(1) by striking ``impracticability standards'' and
inserting ``standards for exclusion'';
(2) by striking ``a finding of impracticability'' and
inserting ``the exclusion''; and
(3) by striking ``energy consumption requirements'' and
inserting ``requirements of subsections (a) and (b)(1)''.
(e) Criteria.--Section 543(c) of the National Energy Conservation
Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 8253(c)) is further amended by adding at the end
the following:
``(3) Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this
paragraph, the Secretary shall issue guidelines that establish criteria
for exclusions under paragraph (1).''.
(f) Retention of Energy and Water Savings.--Section 546 of the
National Energy Conservation Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 8256) is amended by
adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(e) Retention of Energy and Water Savings.--An agency may retain
any funds appropriated to that agency for energy expenditures, water
expenditures, or wastewater treatment expenditures, at buildings
subject to the requirements of section 543(a) and (b), that are not
made because of energy savings or water savings. Except as otherwise
provided by law, such funds may be used only for energy efficiency,
water conservation, or unconventional and renewable energy resources
projects.''.
(g) Reports.--Section 548(b) of the National Energy Conservation
Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 8258(b)) is amended--
(1) in the subsection heading, by inserting ``the President
And'' before ``Congress''; and
(2) by inserting ``President and'' before ``Congress''.
(h) Conforming Amendment.--Section 550(d) of the National Energy
Conservation Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 8258b(d)) is amended in the second
sentence by striking ``the 20 percent reduction goal established under
section 543(a) of the National Energy Conservation Policy Act (42
U.S.C. 8253(a)).'' and inserting ``each of the energy reduction goals
established under section 543(a).''.
SEC. 104. PROCUREMENT OF ENERGY EFFICIENT PRODUCTS.
(a) Requirements.--Part 3 of title V of the National Energy
Conservation Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 8251 et seq.), as amended by section
101, is amended by adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 553. FEDERAL PROCUREMENT OF ENERGY EFFICIENT PRODUCTS.
``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Energy star product.--The term `Energy Star product'
means a product that is rated for energy efficiency under an
Energy Star program.
``(2) Energy star program.--The term `Energy Star program'
means the program established by section 324A of the Energy
Policy and Conservation Act.
``(3) Executive agency.--The term `executive agency' has
the meaning given the term in section 4 of the Office of
Federal Procurement Policy Act (41 U.S.C. 403).
``(4) FEMP designated product.--The term `FEMP designated
product' means a product that is designated under the Federal
Energy Management Program of the Department of Energy as being
among the highest 25 percent of equivalent products for energy
efficiency.
``(b) Procurement of Energy Efficient Products.--
``(1) Requirement.--To meet the requirements of an
executive agency for an energy consuming product, the head of
the executive agency shall, except as provided in paragraph
(2), procure--
``(A) an Energy Star product; or
``(B) a FEMP designated product.
``(2) Exceptions.--The head of an executive agency is not
required to procure an Energy Star product or FEMP designated
product under paragraph (1) if the head of the executive agency
finds in writing that--
``(A) an Energy Star product or FEMP designated
product is not cost-effective over the life of the
product taking energy cost savings into account; or
``(B) no Energy Star product or FEMP designated
product is reasonably available that meets the
functional requirements of the executive agency.
``(3) Procurement planning.--The head of an executive
agency shall incorporate into the specifications for all
procurements involving energy consuming products and systems,
including guide specifications, project specifications, and
construction, renovation, and services contracts that include
provision of energy consuming products and systems, and into
the factors for the evaluation of offers received for the
procurement, criteria for energy efficiency that are consistent
with the criteria used for rating Energy Star products and for
rating FEMP designated products.
``(c) Listing of Energy Efficient Products in Federal Catalogs.--
Energy Star products and FEMP designated products shall be clearly
identified and prominently displayed in any inventory or listing of
products by the General Services Administration or the Defense
Logistics Agency. The General Services Administration or the Defense
Logistics Agency shall supply only Energy Star products or FEMP
designated products for all product categories covered by the Energy
Star program or the Federal Energy Management Program, except in cases
where the agency ordering a product specifies in writing that no Energy
Star product or FEMP designated product is available to meet the
buyer's functional requirements, or that no Energy Star product or FEMP
designated product is cost-effective for the intended application over
the life of the product, taking energy cost savings into account.
``(d) Specific Products.--(1) In the case of electric motors of 1
to 500 horsepower, agencies shall select only premium efficient motors
that meet a standard designated by the Secretary. The Secretary shall
designate such a standard not later than 120 days after the date of the
enactment of this section, after considering the recommendations of
associated electric motor manufacturers and energy efficiency groups.
``(2) All Federal agencies are encouraged to take actions to
maximize the efficiency of air conditioning and refrigeration
equipment, including appropriate cleaning and maintenance, including
the use of any system treatment or additive that will reduce the
electricity consumed by air conditioning and refrigeration equipment.
Any such treatment or additive must be--
``(A) determined by the Secretary to be effective in
increasing the efficiency of air conditioning and refrigeration
equipment without having an adverse impact on air conditioning
performance (including cooling capacity) or equipment useful
life;
``(B) determined by the Administrator of the Environmental
Protection Agency to be environmentally safe; and
``(C) shown to increase seasonal energy efficiency ratio
(SEER) or energy efficiency ratio (EER) when tested by the
National Institute of Standards and Technology according to
Department of Energy test procedures without causing any
adverse impact on the system, system components, the
refrigerant or lubricant, or other materials in the system.
Results of testing described in subparagraph (C) shall be published in
the Federal Register for public review and comment. For purposes of
this section, a hardware device or primary refrigerant shall not be
considered an additive.
``(e) Regulations.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this section, the Secretary shall issue guidelines to
carry out this section.''.
(b) Conforming Amendment.--The table of contents of the National
Energy Conservation Policy Act is further amended by inserting after
the item relating to section 552 the following new item:
``Sec. 553. Federal procurement of energy efficient products.''.
SEC. 105. ENERGY SAVINGS PERFORMANCE CONTRACTS.
(a) Limitations.--
(1) In general.--Section 801(a) of the National Energy
Conservation Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 8287(a)) is amended by
adding at the end the following subparagraph:
``(E) All Federal agencies combined may not, after the date of
enactment of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, enter into more than a
total of 100 contracts under this title. Payments made by the Federal
Government under all contracts permitted by this subparagraph combined
shall not exceed a total of $500,000,000. Each Federal agency shall
appoint a coordinator for Energy Savings Performance Contracts with the
responsibility to monitor the number of such contracts for that Federal
agency and the investment value of each contract. The coordinators for
each Federal agency shall meet monthly to ensure that the limits
specified in this subparagraph on the number of contracts and the
payments made for the contracts are not exceeded.''.
(2) Definition.--Section 804(1) of the National Energy
Conservation Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 8287c(1)) is amended to read
as follows:
``(1) The term `Federal agency' means the Department of
Defense, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Department
of Energy. ''.
(3) Validity of contracts.--The amendments made by this
subsection shall not affect the validity of contracts entered
into under title VIII of the National Energy Conservation
Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 8287 et seq.) before the date of
enactment of this Act, or of contracts described in subsection
(h).
(b) Permanent Extension.--Effective October 1, 2006, section 801(c)
of the National Energy Conservation Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 8287(c)) is
repealed.
(c) Payment of Costs.--Section 802 of the National Energy
Conservation Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 8287a) is amended by inserting ``,
water, or wastewater treatment'' after ``payment of energy''.
(d) Energy Savings.--Section 804(2) of the National Energy
Conservation Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 8287c(2)) is amended to read as
follows:
``(2) The term `energy savings' means a reduction in the
cost of energy, water, or wastewater treatment, from a base
cost established through a methodology set forth in the
contract, used in an existing federally owned building or
buildings or other federally owned facilities as a result of--
``(A) the lease or purchase of operating equipment,
improvements, altered operation and maintenance, or
technical services;
``(B) the increased efficient use of existing
energy sources by cogeneration or heat recovery,
excluding any cogeneration process for other than a
federally owned building or buildings or other
federally owned facilities; or
``(C) the increased efficient use of existing water
sources in either interior or exterior applications.''.
(e) Energy Savings Contract.--Section 804(3) of the National Energy
Conservation Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 8287c(3)) is amended to read as
follows:
``(3) The terms `energy savings contract' and `energy
savings performance contract' mean a contract that provides for
the performance of services for the design, acquisition,
installation, testing, and, where appropriate, operation,
maintenance, and repair, of an identified energy or water
conservation measure or series of measures at 1 or more
locations. Such contracts shall, with respect to an agency
facility that is a public building (as such term is defined in
section 3301 of title 40, United States Code), be in compliance
with the prospectus requirements and procedures of section 3307
of title 40, United States Code.''.
(f) Energy or Water Conservation Measure.--Section 804(4) of the
National Energy Conservation Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 8287c(4)) is amended
to read as follows:
``(4) The term `energy or water conservation measure'
means--
``(A) an energy conservation measure, as defined in
section 551; or
``(B) a water conservation measure that improves
the efficiency of water use, is life-cycle cost-
effective, and involves water conservation, water
recycling or reuse, more efficient treatment of
wastewater or stormwater, improvements in operation or
maintenance efficiencies, retrofit activities, or other
related activities, not at a Federal hydroelectric
facility.''.
(g) Review.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Energy shall complete a review
of the Energy Savings Performance Contract program to identify
statutory, regulatory, and administrative obstacles that prevent
Federal agencies from fully utilizing the program. In addition, this
review shall identify all areas for increasing program flexibility and
effectiveness, including audit and measurement verification
requirements, accounting for energy use in determining savings,
contracting requirements, including the identification of additional
qualified contractors, and energy efficiency services covered. The
Secretary shall report these findings to Congress and shall implement
identified administrative and regulatory changes to increase program
flexibility and effectiveness to the extent that such changes are
consistent with statutory authority.
(h) Extension of Authority.--Any energy savings performance
contract entered into under section 801 of the National Energy
Conservation Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 8287) after October 1, 2006, and
before the date of enactment of this Act, shall be deemed to have been
entered into pursuant to such section 801 as amended by subsection (a)
of this section.
TITLE II--RENEWABLE ENERGY
SEC. 203. FEDERAL PURCHASE REQUIREMENT.
(a) Requirement.--The President, acting through the Secretary of
Energy, shall seek to ensure that, to the extent economically feasible
and technically practicable, of the total amount of electric energy the
Federal Government consumes during any fiscal year, the following
amounts shall be renewable energy:
(1) Not less than 3 percent in fiscal years 2007 through
2009.
(2) Not less than 5 percent in fiscal years 2010 through
2012.
(3) Not less than 7.5 percent in fiscal year 2013 and each
fiscal year thereafter.
(b) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Biomass.--The term ``biomass'' means any solid,
nonhazardous, cellulosic material that is derived from--
(A) any of the following forest-related resources:
mill residues, precommercial thinnings, slash, and
brush, or nonmerchantable material;
(B) solid wood waste materials, including waste
pallets, crates, dunnage, manufacturing and
construction wood wastes (other than pressure-treated,
chemically-treated, or painted wood wastes), and
landscape or right-of-way tree trimmings, but not
including municipal solid waste (garbage), gas derived
from the biodegradation of solid waste, or paper that
is commonly recycled;
(C) agriculture wastes, including orchard tree
crops, vineyard, grain, legumes, sugar, and other crop
by-products or residues, and livestock waste nutrients;
or
(D) a plant that is grown exclusively as a fuel for
the production of electricity.
(2) Renewable energy.--The term ``renewable energy'' means
electric energy generated from solar, wind, biomass, landfill
gas, geothermal, municipal solid waste, or new hydroelectric
generation capacity achieved from increased efficiency or
additions of new capacity at an existing hydroelectric project.
(c) Calculation.--For purposes of determining compliance with the
requirement of this section, the amount of renewable energy shall be
doubled if--
(1) the renewable energy is produced and used on-site at a
Federal facility;
(2) the renewable energy is produced on Federal lands and
used at a Federal facility; or
(3) the renewable energy is produced on Indian land as
defined in title XXVI of the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (25
U.S.C. 3501 et. seq.) and used at a Federal facility.
(d) Report.--Not later than April 15, 2007, and every 2 years
thereafter, the Secretary of Energy shall provide a report to Congress
on the progress of the Federal Government in meeting the goals
established by this section.
TITLE VI--NUCLEAR MATTERS
SEC. 624. ELIMINATION OF PENSION OFFSET.
Section 161 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2201) is
amended by adding at the end the following:
``y. Exempt from the application of sections 8344 and 8468 of title
5, United States Code, an annuitant who was formerly an employee of the
Commission who is hired by the Commission as a consultant, if the
Commission finds that the annuitant has a skill that is critical to the
performance of the duties of the Commission.''.
SEC. 632. WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTION.
(a) Definition of Employer.--Section 211(a)(2) of the Energy
Reorganization Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5851(a)(2)) is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(2) in subparagraph (D), by striking the period at the end
and inserting ``; and'' and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(E) a contractor or subcontractor of the
Commission.''.
(b) De Novo Review.--Subsection (b) of such section 211 is amended
by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(4) If the Secretary has not issued a final decision
within 540 days after the filing of a complaint under paragraph
(1), and there is no showing that such delay is due to the bad
faith of the person seeking relief under this paragraph, such
person may bring an action at law or equity for de novo review
in the appropriate district court of the United States, which
shall have jurisdiction over such an action without regard to
the amount in controversy.''.
TITLE VII--VEHICLES AND FUELS
SEC. 701. USE OF ALTERNATIVE FUELS BY DUAL-FUELED VEHICLES.
Section 400AA(a)(3)(E) of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act
(42 U.S.C. 6374(a)(3)(E)) is amended to read as follows:
``(E)(i) Dual fueled vehicles acquired pursuant to this section
shall be operated on alternative fuels unless the Secretary determines
that an agency qualifies for a waiver of such requirement for vehicles
operated by the agency in a particular geographic area in which--
``(I) the alternative fuel otherwise required to be used in
the vehicle is not reasonably available to retail purchasers of
the fuel, as certified to the Secretary by the head of the
agency; or
``(II) the cost of the alternative fuel otherwise required
to be used in the vehicle is unreasonably more expensive
compared to gasoline, as certified to the Secretary by the head
of the agency.
``(ii) The Secretary shall monitor compliance with this
subparagraph by all such fleets and shall report annually to Congress
on the extent to which the requirements of this subparagraph are being
achieved. The report shall include information on annual reductions
achieved from the use of petroleum-based fuels and the problems, if
any, encountered in acquiring alternative fuels.''.
SEC. 704. INCREMENTAL COST ALLOCATION.
Section 303(c) of the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (42 U.S.C.
13212(c)) is amended by striking ``may'' and inserting ``shall''.
SEC. 707. REPORT CONCERNING COMPLIANCE WITH ALTERNATIVE FUELED VEHICLE
PURCHASING REQUIREMENTS.
Section 310(b)(1) of the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (42 U.S.C.
13218(b)(1)) is amended by striking ``1 year after the date of
enactment of this subsection'' and inserting ``February 15, 2006''.
TITLE X--DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY MANAGEMENT
SEC. 1001. ADDITIONAL ASSISTANT SECRETARY POSITION.
(a) Additional Assistant Secretary Position to Enable Improved
Management of Nuclear Energy Issues.--
(1) In general.--Section 203(a) of the Department of Energy
Organization Act (42 U.S.C. 7133(a)) is amended by striking
``six Assistant Secretaries'' and inserting ``7 Assistant
Secretaries''.
(2) Sense of congress.--It is the sense of Congress that
the leadership for departmental missions in nuclear energy
should be at the Assistant Secretary level.
(b) Technical and Conforming Amendments.--
(1) Title 5.--Section 5315 of title 5, United States Code,
is amended by striking ``Assistant Secretaries of Energy (6)''
and inserting ``Assistant Secretaries of Energy (7)''.
(2) Department of energy organization act.--The table of
contents for the Department of Energy Organization Act (42
U.S.C. 7101 note) is amended--
(A) by striking ``Section 209'' and inserting
``Sec. 209'';
(B) by striking ``213.'' and inserting ``Sec.
213.'';
(C) by striking ``214.'' and inserting ``Sec.
214.'';
(D) by striking ``215.'' and inserting ``Sec.
215.''; and
(E) by striking ``216.'' and inserting ``Sec.
216.''.
SEC. 1002. OTHER TRANSACTIONS AUTHORITY.
Section 646 of the Department of Energy Organization Act (42 U.S.C.
7256) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(g)(1) In addition to other authorities granted to the Secretary
under law, the Secretary may enter into other transactions on such
terms as the Secretary may deem appropriate in furtherance of research,
development, or demonstration functions vested in the Secretary. Such
other transactions shall not be subject to the provisions of section 9
of the Federal Nonnuclear Energy Research and Development Act of 1974
(42 U.S.C. 5908) or section 152 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42
U.S.C. 2182).
``(2)(A) The Secretary shall ensure that--
``(i) to the maximum extent the Secretary determines
practicable, no transaction entered into under paragraph (1)
provides for research, development, or demonstration that
duplicates research, development, or demonstration being
conducted under existing projects carried out by the
Department;
``(ii) to the extent the Secretary determines practicable,
the funds provided by the Government under a transaction
authorized by paragraph (1) do not exceed the total amount
provided by other parties to the transaction; and
``(iii) to the extent the Secretary determines practicable,
competitive, merit-based selection procedures shall be used
when entering into transactions under paragraph (1).
``(B) A transaction authorized by paragraph (1) may be used for a
research, development, or demonstration project only if the Secretary
makes a written determination that the use of a standard contract,
grant, or cooperative agreement for the project is not feasible or
appropriate.
``(3)(A) The Secretary shall protect from disclosure, including
disclosure under section 552 of title 5, United States Code, for up to
5 years after the date the information is received by the Secretary--
``(i) a proposal, proposal abstract, and supporting
documents submitted to the Department in a competitive or
noncompetitive process having the potential for resulting in an
award under paragraph (1) to the party submitting the
information; and
``(ii) a business plan and technical information relating
to a transaction authorized by paragraph (1) submitted to the
Department as confidential business information.
``(B) The Secretary may protect from disclosure, for up to 5 years
after the information was developed, any information developed pursuant
to a transaction under paragraph (1) which developed information is of
a character that it would be protected from disclosure under section
552(b)(4) of title 5, United States Code, if obtained from a person
other than a Federal agency.
``(4) Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this
subsection, the Secretary shall prescribe guidelines for using other
transactions authorized by paragraph (1). Such guidelines shall be
published in the Federal Register for public comment under rulemaking
procedures of the Department.
``(5) The authority of the Secretary under this subsection may be
delegated only to an officer of the Department who is appointed by the
President by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and may not
be delegated to any other person.
``(6)(A) Not later than September 31, 2006, the Comptroller General
of the United States shall report to Congress on the Department's use
of the authorities granted under this section, including the ability to
attract nontraditional government contractors and whether additional
safeguards are needed with respect to the use of such authorities.
``(B) In this section, the term `nontraditional Government
contractor' has the same meaning as the term `nontraditional defense
contractor' as defined in section 845(e) of the National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1994 (Public Law 103-160; 10 U.S.C.
2371 note).''.
TITLE XVI--STUDIES
SEC. 1606. TELECOMMUTING STUDY.
(a) Study Required.--The Secretary, in consultation with the
Commission, the Director of the Office of Personnel Management, the
Administrator of General Services, and the Administrator of NTIA, shall
conduct a study of the energy conservation implications of the
widespread adoption of telecommuting by Federal employees in the United
States.
(b) Required Subjects of Study.--The study required by subsection
(a) shall analyze the following subjects in relation to the energy
saving potential of telecommuting by Federal employees:
(1) Reductions of energy use and energy costs in commuting
and regular office heating, cooling, and other operations.
(2) Other energy reductions accomplished by telecommuting.
(3) Existing regulatory barriers that hamper telecommuting,
including barriers to broadband telecommunications services
deployment.
(4) Collateral benefits to the environment, family life,
and other values.
(c) Report Required.--The Secretary shall submit to the President
and Congress a report on the study required by this section not later
than 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act. Such report
shall include a description of the results of the analysis of each of
the subject described in subsection (b).
(d) Definitions.--As used in this section:
(1) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Energy.
(2) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the Federal
Communications Commission.
(3) NTIA.--The term ``NTIA'' means the National
Telecommunications and Information Administration of the
Department of Commerce.
(4) Telecommuting.--The term ``telecommuting'' means the
performance of work functions using communications
technologies, thereby eliminating or substantially reducing the
need to commute to and from traditional worksites.
(5) Federal employee.--The term ``Federal employee'' has
the meaning provided the term ``employee'' by section 2105 of
title 5, United States Code.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality.
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