Energy Independence Task Force Act
This bill establishes the Task Force on Energy Independence in the executive branch. The task force shall examine whether Russia or its agents funded any activities by nongovernmental organizations which limited the ability of Western countries to achieve energy independence and made such countries more reliant on Russian energy exports.
[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8002 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
117th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8002
To establish the Inter-Agency Task Force on Energy Independence to
examine whether the Russian Federation funded activities of
nongovernmental organizations in Western countries which limited the
ability of those countries to achieve energy independence and made them
more reliant on energy exported from Russia, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 9, 2022
Mr. Cawthorn introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Foreign Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish the Inter-Agency Task Force on Energy Independence to
examine whether the Russian Federation funded activities of
nongovernmental organizations in Western countries which limited the
ability of those countries to achieve energy independence and made them
more reliant on energy exported from Russia, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Energy Independence Task Force
Act''.
SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT AND PURPOSE OF TASK FORCE.
(a) Establishment.--There is established in the executive branch a
task force to be known as the ``Task Force on Energy Independence''
(referred to in this Act as the ``Task Force'').
(b) Purpose.--The purpose of the Task Force is to examine whether
the Russian Federation or any agent or instrumentality of the Russian
Federation funded activities of nongovernmental organizations in
Western countries which limited the ability of those countries to
achieve energy independence and made them more reliant on energy
exported from Russia.
SEC. 3. COMPOSITION OF TASK FORCE.
(a) Members.--
(1) Appointment.--Subject to paragraph (3), the Task Force
shall be composed of 10 members, of whom 2 shall be appointed
not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this
Act by each of the following:
(A) The Attorney General.
(B) The Secretary of Energy.
(C) The Secretary of the Treasury.
(D) The Director of the Central Intelligence
Agency.
(E) The Secretary of State.
(2) Qualifications.--Members of the Task Force shall be
employees of offices of the executive branch who have expertise
in any of the issues described in paragraphs (1) through (7) of
section 4.
(3) Status as detailees.--An individual serving as a member
of the Task Force shall be detailed, without reimbursement, by
the office in which the individual serves as an employee,
without interruption or loss of civil service status or
privilege, and the individual's appointment shall be subject to
the approval of the head of the office in which the individual
serves as an employee.
(4) Chair, vice chair, and meetings.--Not later than 30
days after the date on which a simple majority of the members
of the Task Force are appointed under paragraph (1), such
members shall meet to elect a chair and vice chair from among
such members and shall determine a schedule of Task Force
meetings.
(5) No additional funds authorized.--Amounts used for the
salaries and expenses, including expenses for official travel,
of an individual serving as a member of the Task Force shall be
paid out of amounts appropriated for salaries and expenses of
the office in which the individual serves as an employee, and
no additional amounts are authorized to be appropriated for
such salaries and expenses.
(b) Initial Meeting.--The Task Force shall meet and begin the
operations of the Task Force not later than 30 days after the
appointment of a simple majority of members of the Task Force.
(c) Quorum and Vacancy.--
(1) Quorum.--A simple majority of the members of the Task
Force shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser number of members
may hold hearings.
(2) Vacancy.--Any vacancy in the Task Force shall not
affect its powers and shall be filled in the same manner in
which the original appointment was made not later than 30 days
after the vacancy occurs.
SEC. 4. DUTIES OF TASK FORCE.
The Task Force shall determine and analyze the following:
(1) The extent of efforts backed by the Russian Federation
or any agent or instrumentality of the Russian Federation to
financially support nongovernmental organizations in Western
countries that opposed nuclear energy and fracking.
(2) The success or failure of these efforts to suppress
investment by Western countries in diverse energy portfolios.
(3) The extent to which the funding of these organizations
has increased the reliance of Western countries on energy
exported from the Russian Federation.
(4) The assessment of the level of interdependence of
Western countries with the Russian Federation, and the extent
to which Western countries are subject to coercion by the
Russian Federation, because Western countries lack a diverse
energy portfolio.
(5) An assessment of the extent to which energy
independence could affect the American economy and provide
insulation for Western countries against Russian intimidation.
(6) The extent to which the structure of energy agreements
between the Russian Federation and other energy companies used
the participation of smaller, more discreet third-party
companies to provide the Russian Federation with greater
control over the agreements, including an assessment of the
role of companies which were subsidiaries of Russian energy
companies or which were controlled overtly or covertly by the
Russian Federation or instruments of the Russian Federation.
(7) An assessment of the Russian Federation's control of
and investment in energy companies of Western nations,
including companies involved in energy distribution, electric
power generation, storage of materials, pipeline maintenance,
and similar activities.
SEC. 5. POWERS OF TASK FORCE.
(a) Hearings.--The Task Force may hold such hearings, meet and act
at such times and places, and receive such evidence as may be necessary
to carry out its duties.
(b) Information From Federal Agencies.--The Attorney General and
the Secretary of Energy shall work with the heads of offices of the
Federal Government to ensure that the Task Force has access to such
information as the Task Force considers necessary to carry out its
duties.
(c) Assistance From Federal Agencies.--
(1) General services administration.--On request of the
chair of the Task Force, the Administrator of General Services
shall provide to the Task Force, on a reimbursable basis,
administrative support and other assistance necessary for the
Task Force to carry out its duties.
(2) Other departments and agencies.--In addition to the
assistance provided for under paragraph (1), departments and
agencies of the United States may provide to the Task Force
such assistance as they may determine advisable and as
authorized by law.
(d) Subpoena Power.--
(1) In general.--The Commission may issue subpoenas
requiring the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the
production of any evidence relating to any matter which the
Commission is empowered to investigate by section 4. The
attendance of witnesses and the production of evidence may be
required from any place within the United States at any
designated place of hearing within the United States.
(2) Failure to obey a subpoena.--If a person refuses to
obey a subpoena issued under paragraph (1), the Commission may
apply to a United States district court for an order requiring
that person to appear before the Commission to give testimony,
produce evidence, or both, relating to the matter under
investigation. The application may be made within the judicial
district where the hearing is conducted or where that person is
found, resides, or transacts business. Any failure to obey the
order of the court may be punished by the court as civil
contempt.
(3) Service of subpoenas.--The subpoenas of the Commission
shall be served in the manner provided for subpoenas issued by
a United States district court under the Federal Rules of Civil
Procedure for the United States district courts.
(4) Service of process.--All process of any court to which
application is made under paragraph (2) may be served in the
judicial district in which the person required to be served
resides or may be found.
(e) Contracting.--The Task Force may enter into contracts to enable
it to carry out its duties.
(f) Donations.--The Task Force may accept, use, and dispose of
donations of services or property.
(g) Postal Services.--The Task Force may use the United States
mails in the same manner and under the same conditions as a department
or agency of the United States.
SEC. 6. STAFF OF TASK FORCE.
(a) In General.--The chair of the Task Force, in consultation with
the vice chair, in accordance with rules agreed upon by the Task Force,
may appoint and fix the compensation of a staff director and such other
personnel as may be necessary to enable the Task Force to carry out its
functions, in accordance with the provisions of title 5, United States
Code, except that no rate of pay fixed under this subsection may exceed
the equivalent of that payable for a position at level V of the
Executive Schedule under section 5316 of title 5, United States Code.
(b) Staff of Federal Agencies.--Upon request of the chair of the
Task Force, the head of any executive department, bureau, agency,
board, commission, office, independent establishment, or
instrumentality of the Federal Government may detail, without
reimbursement, any of its personnel to the Task Force to assist it in
carrying out its duties under this Act. Any detail of an employee shall
be without interruption or loss of civil service status or privilege.
(c) Consultant Services.--The Task Force is authorized to procure
the services of experts and consultants in accordance with section 3109
of title 5, United States Code, but at rates not to exceed the daily
rate paid a person occupying a position at level IV of the Executive
Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United States Code.
SEC. 7. FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ACT APPLICABILITY.
The provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act shall apply to
the Task Force, including the staff of the Task Force.
SEC. 8. REPORT; TERMINATION.
(a) Final Report.--
(1) In general.--The Task Force shall, not later than 1
year after the date of its first meeting, submit to the
individuals described in paragraph (2) a final report
containing specific findings, conclusions, and recommendations
required under this Act as have been agreed to by a majority of
Task Force members.
(2) Individuals.--The individuals described in this
paragraph are the President, the Attorney General, the
Secretary of Energy, the Secretary of the Treasury, the
Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, the Speaker of the
House of Representatives, the minority leader of the House of
Representatives, the majority leader of the Senate, and the
minority leader of the Senate.
(3) Classified and unclassified material.--The report under
this subsection shall be prepared--
(A) in an unclassified version; and
(B) in a version which includes a classified annex.
(b) Termination.--
(1) In general.--The Task Force, and all the authorities of
this Act, shall terminate on the date that is 30 days after the
date of on which the Task Force submits the final report
required under subsection (a).
(2) Records.--Not later than the date of termination of the
Task Force under paragraph (1), all records and papers of the
Task Force shall be delivered to the Archivist of the United
States for deposit in the National Archives.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Europe, Energy, the Environment and Cyber.
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