Jump to content

Recommended Posts

  • VGS Admin
Posted (edited)

The House and the Senate have passed differing versions of the Defending American Energy Independence Act. Therefore, the conference committee is convened to reconcile the differences.

House Version: https://www.dynamicsim.online/forums/topic/2654-hr-038-defending-american-energy-independence-act/
Senate Version: https://www.dynamicsim.online/forums/topic/2508-sb8-defending-american-energy-independence-act

The Conference Committee members are as follows:

Senator Earl Duplantis (R-LA) @DMH
Senator Tom Worthen (R-SC) @Abrams
Senator Rafael Coleman (D-CO) @camilodeso
Senator Charlotte O'Hare (D-HI) @Blake

The rules of the conference committee are as follows:

  1. Conference committee meetings are open to the public unless the conferees vote to close them, at which point both the House and Senate must also vote in favor of closing them.
  2. A majority of both party's conferees must sign onto the conference report (the final legislation) for the report to make it out of the conference committee.
  3. Final legislation that comes out of the conference committee is subject to a 24 hour simple majority vote simultaneously in both the House and Senate.

Outside of those rules, there are no rules governing how the conference committee operates. The House and Senate allow conferees to decide for themselves how best to conduct their negotiations.

Edited by Brink
  • Replies 4
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Top Posters In This Topic

Posted

Senate Majority Leader Earl Duplantis (R-LA): I propose that we restore the bipartisan deal forged in the Senate with the gas tax holiday extended until January 1st 2029 in accordance with legislation currently on the floor of the House. The American People deserve relief and a robust energy agenda. Both sides have made concessions to one another to get this bill close to the finish line and it is time to make this deal a tangible reality.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

Mrs. ASHCROFT of NORTH CAROLINA, for herself and others, introduces

A BILL

 

To promote American energy independence by prioritizing domestic energy production, reducing reliance on foreign energy, and ensuring affordable energy access for all Americans.

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 "Defending American Energy Independence Act."

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:

  1. American energy independence is critical for national security and economic stability.
  2. Increasing domestic energy production will reduce reliance on foreign energy sources.
  3. Investing in a diverse energy portfolio, including oil, gas, coal, and nuclear energy, ensures long-term energy affordability and reliability.

SEC. 3. PROMOTING DOMESTIC ENERGY PRODUCTION.
(a) Offshore Energy Production.
(1) The Secretary of the Interior shall expedite permitting for offshore oil and gas exploration and production by:

  • Prioritizing applications from U.S.-based companies.
  • Establishing a streamlined approval process that reduces average permit processing times to 180 days.
  • Allocating $200 million for geological surveys to identify high-potential offshore drilling areas.

(2) Lease sales for energy development shall include incentives, such as reduced royalties, for companies committing to employ 75% or more U.S. citizens for operations.
(3) Nothing in this section shall be construed to override existing state laws with respect to offshore energy production.

(b) Onshore Drilling.
(1) Federal lands identified by the Department of the Interior as having proven oil and gas reserves shall be opened for leasing within 90 days of this Act’s enactment.
(2) A 10-year tax holiday on federal land leases will be granted to companies that produce a minimum of 500,000 barrels of oil or equivalent within the first year of operations.

(c) Nuclear Energy Expansion.
(1) Federal grants of $2 billion annually shall fund the development of small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) through public-private partnerships.
(2) The Nuclear Regulatory Commission shall establish a fast-track approval process, reducing approval timelines by 50% without compromising safety standards.

(d) Promotion of Geothermal Energy.
(a) The Geothermal Energy Optimization Act is enacted

(e) Promotion of Hydroelectric Power.
(a) The Hydropower Clean Energy Future Act and the Hydroelectric Modernization and Expansion Act of 2026 are enacted.

(f) Labor Standards for Federal Support Recipients.—
(1) No company shall be eligible for any tax credit, grant, or other incentive provided under this Act unless the company:
(A) utilizes labor that is covered under a collective bargaining agreement or equivalent union protections;
(B) pays prevailing wages as determined by the Secretary of Labor; and
(C) provides its employees with safe working conditions, including compliance with all applicable workplace safety regulations and standards.

(2) The Secretary of Energy, in consultation with the Secretary of Labor, shall issue regulations to ensure compliance with this subsection, including penalties for noncompliance.

SEC. 4. INCENTIVES FOR ENERGY COMPANIES.
(a) Tax Credits for Domestic Production.
(1) Energy companies increasing domestic production by at least 10% annually shall qualify for a 20% federal corporate tax credit.
(2) An additional 10% tax credit shall be available to companies investing in economically distressed regions, with priority given to rural areas and former coal-dependent communities.

(b) Penalties for Outsourcing.
(1) Energy companies shifting production to foreign countries shall face a 15% tax increase on profits derived from the importation of foreign-produced energy.
(2) The Department of Energy shall publish an annual report highlighting companies penalized under this provision.

(c) Allocation to Green Transition Fund.—
(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, 50 percent of all revenue generated or saved as a result of the tax credits, royalty reductions, or other financial incentives provided under this Act shall be deposited into a Green Transition Fund, which is hereby established in the Treasury of the United States.

(2) Funds deposited into the Green Transition Fund shall be used exclusively for:
(A) investments in renewable energy technologies, including but not limited to wind, solar, geothermal, and battery storage;
(B) retraining programs for fossil fuel workers to transition into clean energy jobs; and
(C) grants to state and local governments for public infrastructure upgrades that improve energy efficiency or reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

(3) The Secretary of Energy shall administer the Green Transition Fund and ensure that at least 40 percent of all investments directly benefit economically distressed communities.

(d) Public Energy Dividend Program.—
(1) Beginning in fiscal year 2026, the Secretary of the Treasury shall establish and administer a Public Energy Dividend Program.

(2) Not less than 25 percent of all royalties collected from fossil fuel extraction on public lands and offshore waters shall be distributed annually to American households in the form of a Public Energy Dividend.

(3) The Secretary of the Treasury shall prioritize low- and middle-income households for dividend payments and adjust annual distributions to account for inflation and rising energy costs.

(4) Nothing in this subsection shall preclude the Department of the Interior from collecting and utilizing royalties to ensure environmental restoration and compliance with federal standards.

SEC. 5. REDUCING RELIANCE ON FOREIGN ENERGY.
(a) Import Restrictions.
(1) The importation of crude oil, natural gas, and other energy products from adversarial nations, including China, Russia, and Iran, shall be prohibited.
(2) To facilitate the transition, the Department of Energy will:

  • Establish strategic partnerships with allied nations for energy imports.
  • Offer subsidies to domestic companies capable of offsetting imports through increased production.

(b) Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR).
(1) Releases from the SPR must be used exclusively to stabilize fuel prices during emergencies such as natural disasters or supply chain disruptions.
(2) All SPR releases must include a detailed replenishment plan to restore reserves within 12 months, using domestic energy sources.

SEC. 6. PROTECTING ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE.
(a) Cybersecurity Measures.
(1) The Department of Energy shall allocate $1 billion annually for grants to energy companies to enhance cybersecurity for critical infrastructure, such as pipelines and power grids.
(2) The Department of Homeland Security, in coordination with the Department of Energy, shall develop a nationwide framework for responding to cyberattacks on energy systems.

(b) Resiliency Upgrades.
(1) Grants of up to $10 million per project shall be available for energy companies upgrading aging pipelines, refineries, and power plants to meet modern safety and efficiency standards.
(2) Priority will be given to projects reducing vulnerability to natural disasters and improving environmental compliance.

SEC. 7. ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS.
(a) Streamlined Reviews.
(1) Environmental reviews for energy projects under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) shall have a maximum review period of 12 months.
(2) States may apply for waivers to conduct NEPA reviews independently, provided they meet federal guidelines.

(b) Carbon Emission Benchmarks for Domestic Energy Production.—
(1) No company shall qualify for any tax credit, grant, or other financial incentive under this Act unless the company submits a plan to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) demonstrating compliance with the following carbon emission benchmarks:
(A) A 50 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions (as defined under Section 115 of the Clean Air Act) by 2030 compared to 2005 levels.
(B) A 100 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions (net zero) by 2050 compared to 2005 levels.

(2) Companies receiving incentives must file annual progress reports with the EPA, and any company failing to meet these benchmarks shall be subject to:
(A) revocation of all federal benefits under this Act; and
(B) a fine equal to 150 percent of the total federal financial incentives received under this Act.

(3) The EPA Administrator shall ensure that all carbon reduction plans submitted under this subsection are publicly available for review.

SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) $3 billion is authorized for fiscal years 2025-2028 to implement the provisions of this Act, including cybersecurity measures, resiliency upgrades, and energy innovation grants.

SEC. 9. DEFINITIONS.
For the purposes of this Act:
(1) Adversarial Nations refers to countries identified by the Secretary of State as posing significant security threats to the United States.
(2) Small Modular Reactors refers to nuclear reactors with a capacity of less than 300 megawatts designed for small-scale, flexible deployment.
(3) Economically Distressed Regions are areas with an unemployment rate exceeding the national average by 50% or more.

SEC. 10. INCENTIVES FOR CONSUMERS
(a) Gasoline Tax Holiday
(1) The sale of taxable fuel, including gasoline, diesel fuel, and kerosene to consumers shall be exempt beginning from the enactment of this Act through January 1, 2029.
(2) This exemption does not apply to any stage of production other than the final downstream point of sale transaction directly to retail consumers.
(3) The Secretary of the Treasury may use all applicable authorities to ensure that the benefit of the reduction in taxes resulting from this section is received by consumers.

(b) Maintaining Highway Trust Fund
(1) The Secretary of the Treasury shall transfer from the general fund to the Highway Trust Fund an amount equivalent to the estimated revenue that would have otherwise been generated from the taxes exempted by this Act.

SEC. 11, NUCLEAR.
(a) To help support the development and deployment of advanced nuclear technologies:

(i) The Department of Energy shall develop a regulatory structure for new public-private partnerships in new nuclear technologies, including encouraging federal power purchase agreements and advanced cost recovery;
(ii) The Department of Energy shall implement the Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear (GAIN) program to provide the nuclear community with access to the technical, regulatory, and financial support necessary to move innovative nuclear energy technologies toward commercialization while ensuring the continued safe, reliable, and economic operation of the existing nuclear fleet, providing trustworthy private sector and academic researchers with access to DOE National Labs, federal land use for demonstration facilities, and experimental, computational, and data capabilities;
(iii) The Nuclear Regulatory Commission shall develop a robust technology-inclusive and risk-informed licensing process for advanced reactors, including a process of regulatory review to adapt to new advanced designs and a staged licensing process to allow components of the design to be approved separately before the whole design is finalized; 
(iv) The deployment of Small Modular Reactors shall be supported by permitting federal agencies to enter into agreements with a term of up to 30 years to purchase power produced by SMRs; facilitate the Tennessee Valley Authority’s Clinch River Site project as a pilot project for SMRs, while simultaneously providing DOE with critical energy resilience and a potential opportunity to conduct research and isotope services; and require cooperation between the DoE and the DoD to identify facilities that can benefit from hosting or having an SMR located near the facility to achieve added energy resilience; and,
(v) Nuclear power shall be defined as a “clean power”. 

(b) To support the creation of an advanced fuel supply, the Secretary of Energy shall:

(i)  Establish an adequate “strategic reserve” of higher assay low-enriched fuel (HA-LEU) at an enrichment of 19.75% in order to serve the needs of the advanced reactor community in the near term. The reserve should contain at least 6MT by 2027 and at least an additional 30MT by 2030;
(ii) Develop a fast neutron test facility with a design requirement that it utilize higher assay LEU to serve as a catalyst for the early production of this material;
(iii) Immediately declare a modest amount of its current inventory of highly enriched material, currently assigned to space or Navy propulsion needs, to be surplus in order to serve as the basis for establishing the strategic reserve outlined above, and to develop a plan to replenish such materials for space or Navy propulsion needs, or to present to Congress an alternative procurement strategy; 
(iv) Determine if the current capabilities to transport HA-LEU, either in the form of UF6, metal, oxide, or in the form of fuel for advanced reactors is sufficient to meet the expected need, and if not, shall engage in a 11 program with maximum reliance on the private-sector to design and seek licensing of sufficient transport containers within 5 years;
(v) Work with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the Department of Transportation to expedite the licensing of containers for UF6, metal, oxide or other forms of advanced reactor fuels; and,
(vi) Work with the NRC to expedite the process for conducting the review and approval of Category 2 security facilities, and to expedite the process for conducting the review and approval of increased enrichment of uranium. 

(c) Restrictions on using export finance and development finance to support nuclear energy exports are hereby lifted, and the US shall use its influence to try to repeal such restrictions within the World Bank.

(d) The Department of Energy shall produce a standardized process, with targets for review durations and appropriate security safeguards, for nuclear energy exports. 

(e) The Nuclear Regulatory Commission shall create a regulatory process for approving consolidated interim nuclear waste storage facilities.

(f) The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) shall conduct a study to identify what market structures best encourage grid-scale decarbonization competition while ensuring competition, low prices, and a reliable grid.

(g) In the event that a deregulated power market is found to put nuclear power at an unfair competitive disadvantage, the DoE shall be authorized to use surplus royalty payments and power sale profits to compensate for such facilities. 

SEC. 12, HYDROPOWER. 
(a) To improve the retrofitting and investment rate in US Army Corps of Engineer-owned hydropower facilities, investment in such facilities will be improved by:

(i) Allowing Power Marketing Administrations selling power generated by USACE-owned hydropower facilities to charge up to market rates; 
(ii) Developing a systematic process that covers the entire USACE-owned and operated hydropower fleet to identify, analyze and fund modernization projects and to identify facilities most in need of repair and maintenance;
(iii) Allowing funds earned through the sale of power to be used for modernization and non-routine maintenance projects;
(iv) Allowing USACE to enter into public-private partnerships to modernize dams and hydropower facilities; and,
(v) Reducing USACE backlogs by reauthorizing the Water Resources Development Act and creating an automatic deauthorization process for projects specified under that act, to reduce the WRDA backlog, automatically deauthorizing any project that has not received any construction funding in the past five years unless a specific waiver is granted by the President.

(b) To facilitate faster regulatory approval of hydropower projects, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's coordinating role shall be strengthened. 

(i) Governmental entities and Indian tribes, when considering an aspect of an application for federal authorization, must coordinate with FERC and comply with its deadlines.
(ii) Information requests required for the permitting and regulatory process shall go through, and be pooled by, the FERC. 
(iii) The FERC when deciding whether to issue a license for hydropower project works, shall give equal consideration to minimizing infringement on the useful exercise and enjoyment of property rights held by non-licensees. The licensee, in developing any recreational resource within the project boundary, shall consider private landownership as a means to encourage and facilitate private investment, increased tourism, conservation, and recreational use.

(c) To approve the speed and efficiency of environmental studies for hydropower projects under the National Environmental Policy Act and related legislation:

(i) Other recent studies conducted in the region, that are still relevant and meet current standards of environmental review, may be cited by developers in seeking hydropower project approval;
(ii) Public resources shall be made available to address common questions and recurring issues that arise during hydropower licensing or relicensing; and,
(iii) Electrification of municipal water systems shall be made exempt from the environmental study process.

(d) Hydropower shall be designated as a renewable resource for the purposes of federal purchasing requirements.

SEC. 13. HYDROELECTRIC MODERNIZATION AND EXPANSION.

(a) Funding Allocation for Aging Federal Dams 

(1) Funding Authorization:

  • (A) $10 billion is authorized for fiscal years 2026-2031 for the modernization and rehabilitation of federally-owned hydroelectric dams aged 80 years or older.
  • (B) Funds may be used for structural repairs, turbine replacements, dam safety upgrades, sediment management, and compliance with environmental standards.

(2) Eligibility:

(A) Priority will be given to dams that:

  • Have a history of safety concerns or operational inefficiencies.
  • Are located in regions with high renewable energy demands.
  • Serve critical purposes such as flood control, irrigation, and electricity generation.

(3) Grant Administration:

(A) The Department of Energy (DOE), in consultation with the Army Corps of Engineers and the Bureau of Reclamation, will administer grants to agencies responsible for federally-owned dams.

(b) National Hydroelectric Expansion Program

(a) Development Grants:

(1) $5 billion is authorized for fiscal years 2026-2032 to fund grants for:

  • Construction of new hydroelectric facilities at existing non-powered dams.
  • Upgrades to privately-owned hydroelectric plants to improve efficiency and safety.
  • Feasibility studies for small-scale hydroelectric projects in underserved or rural areas.

(b) Incentives for Innovation:

(1) $1 billion is allocated to support research and development in hydroelectric technology, including:

  • Fish-friendly turbines.
  • Advanced sediment management techniques.
  • Grid integration technologies for hydroelectric power.

(c) Environmental and Community Impact

(a) Environmental Compliance:

(1) Projects funded under this Act must comply with the Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, and other applicable environmental laws.

(d) Community Engagement:

(a) The DOE will require public hearings and community input before approving modernization or new development projects.

(e) Reporting Requirements

(a) Annual Report to Congress:

(1) The DOE will submit an annual report to Congress detailing:

  • The status of federally-owned dam modernization projects.
  • Progress on new hydroelectric development.
  • The environmental and economic impact of funded projects.

(f) Oversight Committee:

(a) A bipartisan Congressional committee will be established to oversee the implementation of this Act and ensure accountability and transparency.

(g) Funding Source 

(a) The funding authorized under this Act will be sourced from the Green Energy Infrastructure Fund established under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.

(b) If additional funds are required, Congress may consider issuing renewable energy bonds to raise capital.

SEC. 14 ENERGY ONE.

(A) INVESTMENT TAX CREDIT FOR BIOMASS HEATING PROPERTY.

(a) In General.—Section 48(a)(3)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended—
(1) by striking “or” at the end of clause (vii),
(2) by adding “or” at the end of clause (viii), and
(3) and by inserting after clause (viii) the following new clause:

“(ix) open-loop biomass heating property (within the meaning of section 45(c)(3)) heating property, including boilers or furnaces that operate at thermal output efficiencies of not less than 75 percent (measured by the lower heating value of the fuel at nominal output), that are installed indoors, and that provide thermal energy in the form of heat, hot water, or steam for space heating, air conditioning, domestic hot water, or industrial process heat,”.

(b) Open-Loop Biomass Heating Property Defined.—Section 48(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

“(6) OPEN-LOOP BIOMASS HEATING PROPERTY.—

“(A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘open-loop biomass heating property’ means any property which—

“(i) uses open-loop biomass (as defined in section 45(c)(3)) to produce thermal energy in the form of heat, hot water, hot air, or steam, and
“(ii) is used for space heating, air conditioning, domestic hot water, industrial process heat, or any combination of the foregoing.

“(B) REQUIREMENTS FOR BOILERS AND FURNACES.—Such term shall not include any boiler or furnace unless such boiler or furnace—

“(i) operates at thermal output efficiencies of not less than 75 percent (measured by the lower heating value of the fuel at nominal output), and
“(ii) is installed indoors.”.

(c) ENERGY- Percentage.—Section 48(a)(2)(A)(i) of such Code is amended—

(1) by striking “and” at the end of subclause (IV), and
(2) by adding at the end the following new subclause:

“(VI) open-loop biomass heating property, but only with respect to property the construction of which begins before January 1, 2023, and”.

(d) Effective Date.—The amendments made by this section shall apply to periods after December 31, 2021, in taxable years ending after such date, under rules similar to the rules of section 48(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (as in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of the Revenue Reconciliation Act of 1990).

(B) EXTENSION OF RESIDENTIAL ENERGY EFFICIENT PROPERTY CREDIT.

(a) In General.—Section 25D(h) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking “December 31, 2023” and inserting “December 31, 2028”.

(b) Application Of Phaseout.—Section 25D(g) of such Code is amended—

(1) by striking “before January 1, 2023” in paragraph (2) and inserting “before January 1, 2022”,
(2) by striking “and” at the end of paragraph (2),
(3) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (5) and by inserting after paragraph (2) the following new paragraphs:

“(3) in the case of property placed in service after December 31, 2026, and before January 1, 2032, 30 percent,
“(4) in the case of property placed in service after December 31, 2028, and before January 1, 2030, 26 percent, and”, and

(4) by striking “December 31, 2026, and before January 1, 2028” in paragraph (5) (as so redesignated) and inserting “December 31, 2027, and before January 1, 2029”.

(c) Effective Date.—The amendments made by this section shall apply to expenditures made after the date of the enactment of this Act.

SEC. 15. STRENGTHENING NORTH AMERICAN ENERGY SECURITY.

(a) Authorization Of Certain Energy Infrastructure Projects At An International Boundary Of The United States.—

(1) AUTHORIZATION.—Except as provided in paragraph (3) and subsection (e), no person may construct, connect, operate, or maintain a border-crossing facility for the import or export of oil or natural gas, or the transmission of electricity, across an international border of the United States without obtaining a certificate of crossing for the border-crossing facility under this subsection.

(2) CERTIFICATE OF CROSSING.—

(A) REQUIREMENT.—Not later than 120 days after final action is taken, by the relevant official or agency identified under subparagraph (B), under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) with respect to a border-crossing facility for which a person requests a certificate of crossing under this subsection, the relevant official or agency, in consultation with appropriate Federal agencies, shall issue a certificate of crossing for the border-crossing facility unless the relevant official or agency finds that the construction, connection, operation, or maintenance of the border-crossing facility is not in the public interest of the United States.

(B) RELEVANT OFFICIAL OR AGENCY.—The relevant official or agency referred to in subparagraph (A) is—

(i) the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission with respect to border-crossing facilities consisting of oil or natural gas pipelines; and

(ii) the Secretary of Energy with respect to border-crossing facilities consisting of electric transmission facilities.

(C) ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENT FOR ELECTRIC TRANSMISSION FACILITIES.—In the case of a request for a certificate of crossing for a border-crossing facility consisting of an electric transmission facility, the Secretary of Energy shall require, as a condition of issuing the certificate of crossing under subparagraph (A), that the border-crossing facility be constructed, connected, operated, or maintained consistent with all applicable policies and standards of—

(i) the Electric Reliability Organization and the applicable regional entity; and

(ii) any Regional Transmission Organization or Independent System Operator with operational or functional control over the border-crossing facility.

(3) EXCLUSIONS.—This subsection shall not apply to any construction, connection, operation, or maintenance of a border-crossing facility for the import or export of oil or natural gas, or the transmission of electricity—

(A) if the border-crossing facility is operating for such import, export, or transmission as of the date of enactment of this Act;

(B) if a permit described in subsection (d) for the construction, connection, operation, or maintenance has been issued; or

(C) if an application for a permit described in subsection (d) for the construction, connection, operation, or maintenance is pending on the date of enactment of this Act, until the earlier of—

(i) the date on which such application is denied; or

(ii) two years after the date of enactment of this Act, if such a permit has not been issued by such date of enactment.

(4) EFFECT OF OTHER LAWS.—

(A) APPLICATION TO PROJECTS.—Nothing in this subsection or subsection (e) shall affect the application of any other Federal statute to a project for which a certificate of crossing for a border-crossing facility is requested under this subsection.

(B) NATURAL GAS ACT.—Nothing in this subsection or subsection (e) shall affect the requirement to obtain approval or authorization under sections 3 and 7 of the Natural Gas Act for the siting, construction, or operation of any facility to import or export natural gas.

(C) OIL PIPELINES.—Nothing in this subsection or subsection (e) shall affect the authority of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission with respect to oil pipelines under section 60502 of title 49, United States Code.

(b) Importation Or Exportation Of Natural Gas To Canada And Mexico.—Section 3(c) of the Natural Gas Act (15 U.S.C. 717b(c)) is amended by adding at the end the following: “In the case of an application for the importation of natural gas from, or the exportation of natural gas to, Canada or Mexico, the Commission shall grant the application not later than 30 days after the date on which the Commission receives the complete application.”.

(c) Transmission Of Electric Energy To Canada And Mexico.—

(1) REPEAL OF REQUIREMENT TO SECURE ORDER.—Section 202(e) of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 824a(e)) is repealed.

(2) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—

(A) STATE REGULATIONS.—Section 202(f) of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 824a(f)) is amended by striking “insofar as such State regulation does not conflict with the exercise of the Commission's powers under or relating to subsection 202(e)”.

(B) SEASONAL DIVERSITY ELECTRICITY EXCHANGE.—Section 602(b) of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 824a–4(b)) is amended by striking “the Commission has conducted hearings and made the findings required under section 202(e) of the Federal Power Act” and all that follows through the period at the end and inserting “the Secretary has conducted hearings and finds that the proposed transmission facilities would not impair the sufficiency of electric supply within the United States or would not impede or tend to impede the coordination in the public interest of facilities subject to the jurisdiction of the Secretary.”.

(d) No Presidential Permit Required.—No Presidential permit (or similar permit) required under Executive Order No. 13337 (3 U.S.C. 301 note), Executive Order No. 11423 (3 U.S.C. 301 note), section 301 of title 3, United States Code, Executive Order No. 12038, Executive Order No. 10485, or any other Executive order shall be necessary for the construction, connection, operation, or maintenance of an oil or natural gas pipeline or electric transmission facility, or any border-crossing facility thereof.

(e) Modifications To Existing Projects.—No certificate of crossing under subsection (a), or permit described in subsection (d), shall be required for a modification to—

(1) an oil or natural gas pipeline or electric transmission facility that is operating for the import or export of oil or natural gas or the transmission of electricity as of the date of enactment of this Act;

(2) an oil or natural gas pipeline or electric transmission facility for which a permit described in subsection (d) has been issued; or

(3) a border-crossing facility for which a certificate of crossing has previously been issued under subsection (a).

(f) Effective Date; Rulemaking Deadlines.—

(1) EFFECTIVE DATE.—Subsections (a) through (e), and the amendments made by such subsections, shall take effect on the date that is 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act.

(2) RULEMAKING DEADLINES.—Each relevant official or agency described in subsection (a)(2)(B) shall—

(A) not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, publish in the Federal Register notice of a proposed rulemaking to carry out the applicable requirements of subsection (a); and

(B) not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, publish in the Federal Register a final rule to carry out the applicable requirements of subsection (a).

(g) Definitions.—In this section—

(1) the term “border-crossing facility” means the portion of an oil or natural gas pipeline or electric transmission facility that is located at an international boundary of the United States;

(2) the term “modification” includes a reversal of flow direction, change in ownership, change in flow volume, addition or removal of an interconnection, or an adjustment to maintain flow (such as a reduction or increase in the number of pump or compressor stations);

(3) the term “natural gas” has the meaning given that term in section 2 of the Natural Gas Act (15 U.S.C. 717a);

(4) the term “oil” means petroleum or a petroleum product;

(5) the terms “Electric Reliability Organization” and “regional entity” have the meanings given those terms in section 215 of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 824o); and

(6) the terms “Independent System Operator” and “Regional Transmission Organization” have the meanings given those terms in section 3 of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 796)

SEC. 16. EFFECTIVE DATE.

This Act shall take effect immediately following passage into law.

PES: The Defending American Energy Independence Act aims to enhance U.S. energy security by prioritizing domestic energy production, reducing reliance on foreign imports, and strengthening energy infrastructure. It includes measures to streamline permitting for oil, gas, and nuclear energy projects, provide tax incentives for companies expanding domestic operations, and impose penalties on outsourcing production. The bill also prohibits energy imports from adversarial nations, allocates funding to improve cybersecurity for critical energy systems, and supports innovation in cleaner extraction technologies. Provides for a gas tax holiday until January 1st 2029.

Senator Earl Duplantis (R-LA)

Biography | Press Office | Voting Record

WH Chief of Staff Camila Duplantis-Santiago & WH Press Secretary Ammon Rasmussen

  • VGS Admin
Posted (edited)

Do the other members of the committee sign onto the proposed conference report (legislation)?

Edited by Brink
Posted (edited)

No, I think we should start with the version in the house, with the added has tax. Oil companies have sat none thousand unused leases. They do not need a decade of tax breaks, and the greed of oil companies does not supercede the right of Americans to be able to see the natural wonders of America and therefore the bill must include the legal protections against oil leases from being handed out under this act in accordance with the House version. 

Edited by Blake

D7GmvKE.png

 

DNC Chair: Q1 2025-Present

  • Brink changed the title to Conference: Defending American Energy Independence Act

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.


  • Latest VGS News

    • A Sudden Burst of Sanity Strikes Congress By Rondal Goldfarb In another whiplash moment that defied expectations, Congress courageously stood up in unity to push back against some of the most egregious policy proposals of the 119th sessions to expand the welfare state.  In a shocking plot twist, the uniparty united against itself in a flurry of final votes in the final death throes of the 119th Congress. After a long session of rocketing through so many socialist bills through Congress at a speed that almost risked warping space time to deliver us into an alternative universe where their dystopian hellscape thrives, Speaker Jeffries and Minority Leader Hern (R-OK) curb stomped the brakes so hard that they actually flipped time back into a world where common sense survives and the free market still reigns, if only for a blissful but serene moment. After months of Democrats campaigning hard on their Soviet housing scheme, the HOUSE Act, and pitching the idea to every exhausted midwest farmer who took a blood oath to vote for them if they would just stop harassing them, Congresscritters united in lockstep to flush their own bill down the toilet and say JK by a vote of 433-0! Back to the drawing board. And thank goodness. The HOUSE Act, sponsored by Senators Storm, Guenther, and our old friend, Commie Kahiona, has a litany of problems with it but now that it has been relegated to the dustbin of history by the sponsors’ own Party, we’ll just cover the topline insanity: The HOUSE Act invests $175 Billion in taxpayer dollars into new public housing projects. Par for the course from The Three Apparatchiks. Public housing is a fundamentally flawed policy that exemplifies the inefficiencies of government intervention in the housing market. By centralizing control over housing production and management, public housing programs often suffer from poor quality construction, inadequate maintenance, and misallocation of resources. These projects frequently fail to meet the actual needs of low-income communities, fostering dependency rather than empowerment. Furthermore, public housing disrupts the natural dynamics of supply and demand, discouraging private investment and innovation in affordable housing solutions and raising costs for everyone else. A better approach would be to reduce regulatory barriers, such as construction mandates and Davis Bacon requirements, to encourage a competitive housing market that organically addresses the diverse needs of individuals while promoting economic mobility and self-reliance. While it is perfectly reasonable to question the Republican leadership’s judgment as well, given their sworn allegiance to the People’s First Agenda, the move somewhat tracks with the sudden reversal from trend in their decision to kill the veto overturn over the Blutarsky Bill. Interestingly though, the Republicans are the only ones that have justified their actions in the House on this issue. Democrats, meanwhile, have been as unified in their silence on the motion as they were in their opposition. Outgoing Senate Majority Leader Duplantis (R-Red Lobster) tried to get Senator Storm to answer for it on the Corporate News Media’s bungled election coverage but was met with the same deafening silence as when Vanessa Taylor herself also asked them questions they did not want to answer. Personally, we do not really need a reason; we just hope this turning over a new leaf for Congress carries over into the next session. But wait. There’s more! After politically posturing from adding modest benefit changes to Medicare all the way through Medicare for All and beyond, House Democrats and Republicans both finally mustered enough courage to unanimously renounce a bill by the DNC Chair herself, Senator O’Hare (D-HI), to provide coverage for dental, vision, and hearing services under Medicare. Nevermind that the program has less than 10 years left to live even before considering the additional costs of the proposed expanded benefits. For reasons that remain unknown to all, (even staffers could be seen literally aghast from camera #4 on C-SPAN 2,) House Democrats under Speaker Jeffries finally heard the call of their fallen comrade, President Biden, and beat Medicare. Or saved it, from our perspective. At least for now. We really are not in Kansas anymore. This phenomenon is basically unprecedented in House history. Why did the leadership of a party that campaigned so heavily on housing and health issues suddenly bring up their own bills in the final weeks of Congress only to self-immolate them on the floor like a teething toddler in a tantrum? The world may never know.  But for the rest of us watching at home, your entitlements will endure a little longer, and we are not all being rounded into taxpayer-sponsored Soviet style tenements against our will just yet. At least until January. Until then, you can check out any time you like, but only if you continue to: #ChooseFreedom
    • Treasury Secretary Levi Koenig Approves New Opportunity Zones in New Jersey, Calls for Nationwide Participation by Jean Luke Perry Secretary of the Treasury Levi Koenig has announced the approval of a request to designate New Jersey’s Urban Enterprise Zones as federal Opportunity Zones at the request of Senator Vini Vinachelli (R-NJ), marking a significant expansion of the program aimed at driving economic revitalization in distressed communities. The move comes as part of the Innovation Growth Amendment under the Permanent Tax Cuts Act, championed by Senators Levi Koenig (R-FL), Osiris Storm (D-NY), Charlotte O’Hare (D-HI), and led by the Van Horn administration. The initiative will bring a new round of 5,000 Opportunity Zones to economically struggling areas, including those within New Jersey’s UEZs. Secretary Koenig hailed the decision as a “strategic alignment of federal and state resources to unlock unprecedented investment and growth.” “New Jersey’s Urban Enterprise Zones have been a proven success in fostering economic development, and expanding the Opportunity Zone program to these areas will enhance their impact,” Koenig said in a press conference. “I encourage states across the country to submit their proposals for the next round of designations so we can continue driving transformative change in underserved communities.” New Jersey’s UEZs, which have historically faced high unemployment and limited access to capital, will now benefit from the tax incentives and investment opportunities provided by the OZ framework. This dual-front strategy leverages federal and state initiatives to attract private-sector investment, support infrastructure projects, and stimulate business development. The Treasury Department also confirmed that existing Opportunity Zones expiring in December 2026 would be eligible for re-designation under the new legislation, granting an additional five years of benefits to previously designated areas. This renewal option aims to ensure sustained growth in areas where OZs have shown measurable success. Governor Jack Ciattarelli of New Jersey added, “This designation positions our state as a leader in economic revitalization. We’re committed to ensuring these new Opportunity Zones create equitable and sustainable opportunities for residents and businesses.” The Treasury Department has invited all states to submit proposals for the expanded Opportunity Zone program, emphasizing the importance of targeting areas with significant economic challenges. Secretary Koenig assured that the application process would prioritize transparency and collaboration with local governments and community stakeholders. As the next round of Opportunity Zone designations begins, the federal government is optimistic that the expanded program will continue driving private investment into areas most in need, fulfilling its mission to foster economic opportunity and build stronger, more resilient communities.
  • Upcoming Events

    No upcoming events found
  • Recent Achievements

    • Marmot Of The Marsh earned a badge
      1 Month Anniversary
    • DannyUK earned a badge
      1 Week Anniversary
    • Artifex earned a badge
      First Steps

×
×
  • Create New...