HR 1756 IHCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

112th CONGRESSCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

1st SessionCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

H. R. 1756CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To reauthorize the National Oilheat Research Alliance, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

May 5, 2011CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Mr. BASS of New Hampshire (for himself, Mr. WELCH, Mr. PALLONE, and Mr. LANCE) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and CommerceCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

A BILLCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To reauthorize the National Oilheat Research Alliance, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ‘National Oilheat Research Alliance Reauthorization Act of 2011’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 2. AMENDMENTS.

(a) Findings- Section 702 of the National Oilheat Research Alliance Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 6201 note; Public Law 106-469) is amended by striking ‘oilheat’ each place it appears and inserting ‘oilheat fuel’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Definitions- Section 703 of the National Oilheat Research Alliance Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 6201 note; Public Law 106-469) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) by striking ‘oilheat’ each place it appears (other than paragraph (10)) and inserting ‘oilheat fuel’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) in paragraph (2), by inserting ‘, including information on energy conservation strategies, safety, new technologies that reduce consumption or improve safety, and State, local, or Federal programs designed to assist oilheat fuel consumers’ after ‘hot water heating fuels’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) by striking paragraph (7) and inserting the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(7) OILHEAT FUEL- The term ‘oilheat fuel’ means fuel that--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) is--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(i) No. 1 distillate;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(ii) No. 2 dyed distillate;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(iii) a liquid blended with No. 1 distillate or No. 2 dyed distillate; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(iv) a biobased liquid; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) is used as a fuel for nonindustrial commercial or residential space or hot water heating.’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) in the heading for paragraph (8), by striking ‘OILHEAT’ and inserting ‘OILHEAT FUEL’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) in paragraph (14)--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) by striking ‘No. 1 distillate or No. 2 dyed distillate’ each place it appears and inserting ‘oilheat fuel’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘sells the distillate’ and inserting ‘sells the oilheat fuel’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(6) by redesignating paragraphs (14) and (15) as paragraphs (15) and (14), respectively, and moving paragraph (15) (as so redesignated) to appear after paragraph (14).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Referenda- Section 704 of the National Oilheat Research Alliance Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 6201 note; Public Law 106-469) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) by striking ‘oilheat’ each place it appears and inserting ‘oilheat fuel’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) by striking ‘No. 1 distillate and No. 2 dyed distillate’ each place it appears in subsections (a) and (c) and inserting ‘oilheat fuel’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) in subsection (a)--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) in paragraph (5)(B), by striking ‘Except as provided in subsection (b), the’ and inserting ‘The’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) in paragraph (6), by striking ‘, No. 1 distillate, or No. 2 dyed distillate’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) in subsection (b), by striking ‘under’ and inserting ‘consistent with’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) in the heading for subsection (d), by striking ‘Oilheat’ and inserting ‘Oilheat Fuel’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(d) Membership- Section 705 of the National Oilheat Research Alliance Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 6201 note; Public Law 106-469) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) by striking ‘oilheat’ each place it appears and inserting ‘oilheat fuel’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) in subsection (b)(2), by striking ‘No. 1 distillate and No. 2 dyed distillate’ and inserting ‘oilheat fuel’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) by striking subsection (c) and inserting the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(c) Number of Members-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) IN GENERAL- The membership of the Alliance shall be as follows:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) One member representing each State participating in the Alliance.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) Five representatives of retail marketers, of whom 1 shall be selected by each of the qualified State associations of the 5 States with the highest volume of annual oilheat fuel sales.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(C) Five additional representatives of retail marketers.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(D) Twenty-one representatives of wholesale distributors.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(E) Six public members, who shall be representatives of significant users of oilheat fuel, the oilheat fuel research community, State energy officials, or other groups with expertise in oilheat fuel.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) FULL-TIME OWNERS OR EMPLOYEES-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) IN GENERAL- Except as provided in subparagraph (B), other than the public members of the Alliance, Alliance members shall be full-time managerial owners or employees of members of the oilheat fuel industry.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) EMPLOYEES- Members described in subparagraphs (B), (C), and (D) of paragraph (1) may be employees of the qualified industry organization or an industry trade association.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(e) Functions- Section 706 of the National Oilheat Research Alliance Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 6201 note; Public Law 106-469) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) by striking ‘oilheat’ each place it appears and inserting ‘oilheat fuel’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) in subsection (a)(1)(A)(ii), by inserting ‘, including providing the cost of installing appliances in low-income households’ after ‘utilization equipment’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) in subsection (a), by adding at the end the following new paragraph:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(4) TRAINING AND RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AS A PRIORITY- Of the assessments collected by the Association pursuant to section 707, not less than 40 percent shall be devoted to a category of outlays comprised of training projects and research, development, and demonstration projects, with a priority on research, development, and demonstration projects that would enhance efficiency through the use of biobased liquids. Training and research under this paragraph shall include the development and demonstration of advanced biofuels.’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) in the heading for subsection (c)(2), by striking ‘OILHEAT’ and inserting ‘OILHEAT FUEL’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) by redesignating paragraph (4) of subsection (e) as paragraph (5);CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(6) by inserting after subsection (e)(3) the following new paragraph:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(4) RESPONSE TO RECOMMENDATIONS- If the Secretary makes recommendations under paragraph (3), the Alliance shall, before implementation of the budget with respect to which the recommendations pertain, provide to the Secretary and the Congress a report describing the Alliance’s response to the recommendations.’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(7) by amending subsection (f)(2)(C) to read as follows:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(C) PROCEDURES TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE- The Alliance shall contract with a qualified accounting firm to develop procedures to ensure compliance with the Act. The Alliance shall contract on a yearly basis with a qualified accounting firm to evaluate whether such procedures have been followed. Such evaluation shall be included in the annual report required under subsection (h) and shall be furnished to Congress and to the Secretary of Energy.’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(8) in subsection (h)--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) by striking ‘and’ at the end of paragraph (1);CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (2) and inserting ‘; and’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(3) provides a detailed account of the amounts spent by each qualified State association that received funds pursuant to subsection (e) on training, research, development, and demonstration, safety, and consumer education.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(f) Assessments- Section 707 of the National Oilheat Research Alliance Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 6201 note; Public Law 106-469) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) by striking ‘oilheat’ each place it appears and inserting ‘oilheat fuel’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) by striking subsection (a) and inserting the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(a) Rate-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) IN GENERAL- The assessment rate for calendar years 2012 and 2013 shall be equal to 2/10 of 1 cent per gallon of oilheat fuel.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) SUBSEQUENT ASSESSMENTS- Subject to paragraphs (3) and (4), beginning with calendar year 2014, the annual assessment rate shall be sufficient to cover the costs of the plans and programs developed by the Alliance.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(3) LIMITATIONS ON INCREASE-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) IN GENERAL- The annual assessment shall not exceed 1/2 of 1 cent per gallon of oilheat fuel.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) LIMITATION- The annual assessment may not change by more than 1/10 of 1 cent per gallon of oilheat fuel in any 12 month-period.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(C) APPROVAL- No increase in the assessment may occur unless--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(i) the increase is approved by 3/4 of the members voting at a regularly scheduled meeting of the Alliance; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(ii) at least 90 days before the date of the meeting of the Alliance, the Alliance provides notice of the proposed increase to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(D) NOTICE- The Alliance shall provide notice of a change in assessment at least 90 days before the date on which the change is to take effect.’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) in subsections (b)(1) and (c), by striking ‘No. 1 distillate and No. 2 dyed distillate’ each place it appears and inserting ‘oilheat fuel’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) in subsection (b)--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) by striking ‘No. 1 distillate or No. 2 dyed distillate’ each place it appears and inserting ‘oilheat fuel’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) in paragraphs (2)(B) and (5)(B), by striking ‘fuel’ each place it appears and inserting ‘oilheat fuel’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) in the heading for subsection (c), by striking ‘Oilheat’ and inserting ‘Oilheat Fuel’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(6) in subsection (e)(2)(A)(ii)(III), by striking ‘directly benefit’ and all that follows through ‘industry’ and inserting ‘consumers of oilheat fuel’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(g) Market Survey and Consumer Protection- Section 708 of the National Oilheat Research Alliance Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 6201 note; Public Law 106-469) is repealed.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(h) Lobbying Prohibition- Section 710 of the National Oilheat Research Alliance Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 6201 note; Public Law 106-469) is amended to read as follows:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

‘SEC. 710. LOBBYING PROHIBITION.

‘No funds derived from assessments under section 707 collected by the Alliance shall be used directly or indirectly to influence Federal, State, or local legislation or elections, or the manner of execution of legislation, except that the Alliance may use such funds to provide information requested by a Member of Congress, or an official of any Federal, State, or local agency, in the course of the official business of such Member or official.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(i) Violations- Section 712(a) of the National Oilheat Research Alliance Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 6201 note; Public Law 106-469) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘oilheat’ and inserting ‘oilheat fuel’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) by striking paragraph (3) and inserting the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(3) a direct reference to a competing product.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(j) Extension- Section 713 of the National Oilheat Research Alliance Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 6201 note; Public Law 106-469) is amended by striking ‘9 years after the date on which the Alliance is established’ and inserting ‘7 years after the date of enactment of the National Oilheat Research Alliance Reauthorization Act of 2011’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 3. RENEWABLE FUEL CONTENT.

(a) Renewable Fuel Research- Section 706(a)(3)(B)(i)(I) of the National Oilheat Research Alliance Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 6201 note; Public Law 106-469) is amended by inserting ‘, including research to develop renewable fuels and to examine the compatibility of different renewable fuels with oilheat fuel utilization equipment, with priority given to research on the development and use of advanced biofuels’ after ‘utilization equipment’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Report- The National Oilheat Research Alliance shall prepare a report no later than one year after date of enactment of this Act on the use of biofuels in oilheat fuel utilization equipment. This report shall provide information on the environmental benefits, economic benefits, and any technical limitations on the use of biofuels in oilheat fuel utilization equipment. It shall also describe market acceptance of the fuel, and information on State and local governments that are encouraging the use of these fuels in oilheat fuel utilization equipment. The Alliance shall provide this report to the Governor of each State, and other appropriate State leaders, where the Alliance is operating. Additionally, a copy of this report will be furnished to the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and to the Congress.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Consumer Education Materials- The Alliance shall develop consumer education materials in conjunction with an institution or organization engaged in biofuels research describing the benefits of using biofuels as or in oilheat fuel based on the technical information developed pursuant to subsection (b), as well as other information generally available.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink