[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5568 Introduced in House (IH)]
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117th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 5568
To require the Secretary of Energy to carry out a Clean Cities
Coalition Program, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
October 12, 2021
Mr. McEachin introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Energy and Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require the Secretary of Energy to carry out a Clean Cities
Coalition Program, 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 ``Clean Cities Act''.
SEC. 2. CLEAN CITIES COALITION PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--The Secretary shall carry out a program to be
known as the Clean Cities Coalition Program.
(b) Program Elements.--In carrying out the program under subsection
(a), the Secretary shall--
(1) establish criteria for designating local and regional
Clean Cities Coalitions, including criteria that ensure that
activities of Clean Cities Coalitions benefit all communities,
including rural communities and environmental justice
communities;
(2) designate local and regional Clean Cities Coalitions
that the Secretary determines meet the criteria established
under paragraph (1);
(3) ensure that there are active Clean Cities Coalitions
working in all 50 States, the District of Columbia, and the
territories;
(4) make awards to each designated Clean Cities Coalition
for administrative and program expenses of the coalition;
(5) make competitive awards to designated Clean Cities
Coalitions for projects and activities described in subsection
(c);
(6) make competitive awards to non-profit organizations to
provide technical assistance, training, and organizational
support to designated Clean Cities Coalitions;
(7) provide opportunities for communication and sharing of
best practices among designated Clean Cities Coalitions; and
(8) maintain, and make available to the public, a
centralized database of information included in the reports
submitted under subsection (d).
(c) Competitive Awards.--
(1) Projects and activities.--Projects and activities
eligible for awards under subsection (b)(5) are projects and
activities that reduce petroleum consumption, improve air
quality, promote energy and economic security, and encourage
deployment of a diverse, domestic supply of alternative fuels
in the transportation sector by--
(A) encouraging the purchase and use of alternative
fuel vehicles and alternative fuels, including by fleet
managers;
(B) expediting the establishment of local,
regional, and national infrastructure to fuel
alternative fuel vehicles;
(C) advancing the use of other petroleum fuel
reduction technologies and strategies;
(D) conducting outreach and education activities to
advance the use of alternative fuels and alternative
fuel vehicles;
(E) providing training and technical assistance and
tools to users that adopt petroleum fuel reduction
technologies; or
(F) collaborating with and training officials and
first responders with responsibility for permitting and
enforcing fire, building, and other safety codes
related to the deployment and use of alternative fuels
or alternative fuel vehicles.
(2) Cost share.--The Federal share of the cost of a project
or activity for which an award is made under subsection (b)(5)
shall be not less than 80 percent.
(d) Annual Report.--Each designated Clean Cities Coalition shall
submit an annual report to the Secretary on the activities and
accomplishments of the coalition.
(e) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Alternative fuel.--The term ``alternative fuel'' has
the meaning given such term in section 32901 of title 49,
United States Code.
(2) Alternative fuel vehicle.--The term ``alternative fuel
vehicle'' means any vehicle that is capable of operating,
partially or exclusively, on an alternative fuel.
(3) Community of color.--The term ``community of color''
means any geographically distinct area the population of color
of which is higher than the average population of color of the
State in which the community is located.
(4) Environmental justice community.--The term
``environmental justice community'' means any population of
color, community of color, indigenous community, or low-income
community that experiences a disproportionate burden of the
negative human health and environmental impacts of pollution or
other environmental hazards.
(5) Indigenous community.--The term ``indigenous
community'' means--
(A) a federally recognized Indian Tribe;
(B) a State-recognized Indian Tribe;
(C) an Alaska Native or Native Hawaiian community
or organization; and
(D) any other community of indigenous people,
including communities in other countries.
(6) Low income.--The term ``low income'' means an annual
household income equal to, or less than, the greater of--
(A) an amount equal to 80 percent of the median
income of the area in which the household is located,
as reported by the Department of Housing and Urban
Development; and
(B) 200 percent of the Federal poverty line.
(7) Low-income community.--The term ``low-income
community'' means any census block group in which 30 percent or
more of the population are individuals with low income.
(8) Population of color.--The term ``population of color''
means a population of individuals who identify as--
(A) Black;
(B) African American;
(C) Asian;
(D) Pacific Islander;
(E) another non-White race;
(F) Hispanic;
(G) Latino; or
(H) linguistically isolated.
(9) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Energy.
(f) Funding.--
(1) Authorization of appropriations.--There are authorized
to be appropriated to carry out this section $200,000,000 for
each of fiscal years 2022 through 2031, to remain available
until expended.
(2) Allocations.--The Secretary shall allocate funds made
available to carry out this section in each fiscal year as
follows:
(A) 35 percent of such funds shall be distributed
as awards under subsection (b)(4).
(B) 50 percent of such funds shall be distributed
as competitive awards under subsection (b)(5), of which
not less than 40 percent shall be used to support
activities that directly benefit rural communities or
environmental justice communities.
(C) 5 percent of such funds shall be distributed as
competitive awards under subsection (b)(6).
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