105T11 CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. R. 1806 To provide for the consolidation of the Office of Fossil Energy and the Office of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency of the Department of Energy. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES JUNE 5, 1997 Mr. DOYLE (for himself, Mr. CALVERT, Mr. BROWN of California, Mr. ROEMER, Mr. MOLLOHIAN, Mr. COYNE, Mr. COBURN, Mr. GORDON, Mr. KLINK, Mr. MASCARA, Mr. NEY, Mr. FOLEY, Ms. LOFGREN, Mr. ENGLISI of Pennsylvania, and Mr. ROHRABACHER) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science A BILL To provide for the consolidation of the Office of Fossil Energy and the Office of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency of the Department of Energy. 1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa 2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 3 SECTION 1. FINDINGS. 4 5 6 7 8 The Congress finds that (1) the Department of Energy's Office of Fossil Energy and Office of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency are organizationally similar in most areas, using such procedures as project management, con 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 222 tract authority, grants and contract utilization, and in-house research and development to meet the energy research needs of the United States; (2) the goals of these offices are similar, and the energy technology missions and objectives overlap in areas such as advanced materials, biomass, alternative fuels, high-temperature superconductivity, and hydrogen; (3) a unified organizational structure for these offices could provide appropriate direction and oversight of their programmatic work; (4) a unified organizational structure provides opportunities to eliminate duplicate work, improve program integration, and achieve savings in such crosscutting areas as program planning, policy analysis, external communications, and administrative services; (5) these efficiencies can be achieved without compromising the Department's in-house research and development activities; and (6) better use could be made of the resources available in the field offices of these energy offices, 23 improving collaboration and clarifying the distinction 24 between operational issues and programmatic issues. 3 1 SEC. 2. CONSOLIDATION. 2 (a) REQUIREMENT.-Before October 1, 1998, the 3 Secretary of Energy shall consolidate the Office of Fossil 4 Energy and the Office of Renewable Energy and Energy 5 Efficiency into an Office of Energy Technology. Such con6 solidation shall be carried out in a manner that minimizes 7 delay and disruption to ongoing energy research, develop8 ment, and demonstration programs. 9 (b) ADMINISTRATIVE CONSOLIDATION.-Through in10 creased efficiencies resulting from the elimination of dupli11 cation of functions in such areas as program planning, pol12 icy analysis, external communications, and administrative 13 services, the consolidation carried out under subsection (a) 14 shall result by October 1, 1998, in a reduction by 25 of 15 the number of headquarters employees, determined on a 16 full-time equivalent basis, as compared to personnel levels 17 on the date of the enactment of this Act at the head18 quarters of the two offices being consolidated. 19 (c) ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR ENERGY TECH20 NOLOGY. (1) There shall be appointed an Assistant Sec21 retary of Energy for Energy Technology, whose duties 22 shall include the preparation and transmittal to Congress 23 of the documents required under section 3, and the direc24 tion and supervision of the Office of Energy Technology 25 established pursuant to this section. HR 1806 IH 4 1 (2) Section 203(a) of the Department of Energy Or 2 ganization Act (42 U.S.C. 7133(a)) is amended by strik3 ing "eight" and inserting in lieu thereof "seven". 4 SEC. 3. POLICY AND PROGRAM PLANS. 5 The Assistant Secretary for Energy Technology shall, 6 within 6 months after the date of the enactment of this 7 Act, prepare and transmit to the Congress 8 9 10 11 12 13 (1) a strategic plan and policy agenda for the Office of Energy Technology; and (2) a multiyear program plan for that Office for fiscal years 1999 through 2003, including a comprehensive strategy for increasing the use of resources available in field offices. To amend title II of the Hydrogen Future Act of 1996 1 to extend an authorization contained therein, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 3 SECTION 1. EXTENSION OF AUTHORIZATION OF APPRO 4 5 PRIATIONS. Section 202 of the Hydrogen Future Act of 1996 6 (Public Law 104-271) is amended by striking "1997 and 7 1998, to remain available until September 30, 1999" and 8 inserting "1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001, to remain avail9 able until September 30, 2002". Passed the Senate September 16, 1997. Attest: GARY SISCO, |