[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 10121 Introduced in House (IH)]
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118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 10121
To establish youth advisory councils for the purpose of providing
recommendations to the Environmental Protection Agency, Department of
the Interior, Department of Energy, Department of Agriculture, and
Department of Commerce with respect to environmental issues as those
issues relate to youth communities, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
November 14, 2024
Mr. Frost (for himself, Ms. Barragan, Ms. Castor of Florida, and Ms.
Wilson of Florida) introduced the following bill; which was referred to
the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees
on Natural Resources, and Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently
determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such
provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish youth advisory councils for the purpose of providing
recommendations to the Environmental Protection Agency, Department of
the Interior, Department of Energy, Department of Agriculture, and
Department of Commerce with respect to environmental issues as those
issues relate to youth communities, 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 ``Youth Climate Leadership Act of
2024''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Covered agency head.--The term ``covered agency head''
means each of the following heads of agencies:
(A) The Administrator of the Environmental
Protection Agency.
(B) The Secretary of the Interior.
(C) The Secretary of Energy.
(D) The Secretary of Agriculture.
(E) The Secretary of Commerce.
(2) Designated federal officer.--The term ``designated
Federal officer'' means the designated Federal officer for a
Youth Advisory Council appointed under section 3(b)(6).
(3) Disadvantaged community.--The term ``disadvantaged
community'' means a community identified as a disadvantaged
community by the Justice40 Initiative (or a successor
initiative) and the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool
of the Council on Environmental Quality (or a successor tool).
(4) Environmental justice.--The term ``environmental
justice'' means the just treatment and meaningful involvement
of all people, without regard to income, race, color, national
origin, Tribal affiliation, or disability, in agency
decisionmaking and other Federal activities that affect human
health and the environment so that people--
(A) are fully protected from disproportionate and
adverse human health and environmental effects
(including risks) and hazards, including those related
to climate change, the cumulative impacts of
environmental and other burdens, and the legacy of
racism or other structural or systemic barriers; and
(B) have equitable access to a healthy,
sustainable, and resilient environment in which to live
and engage in cultural and subsistence practices.
(5) Youth advisory council.--The term ``Youth Advisory
Council'' means a Youth Advisory Council established by a
covered agency head pursuant to section 3(a).
SEC. 3. YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCILS.
(a) Establishment.--Each covered agency head shall establish within
the respective agency of the covered agency head a Youth Advisory
Council for the purpose of providing recommendations to the applicable
covered agency head with respect to governmental approaches to
environmental issues as those issues relate to youth, including--
(1) recommendations with respect to programs to help the
governments of disadvantaged communities address environmental
issues in those disadvantaged communities;
(2) recommendations with respect to performance measures
that could be used to measure the impact of climate change and
other environmental harms that affect youth communities; and
(3) researching, writing reports on, and making
recommendations with a focus on environmental justice, climate
change mitigation and resiliency, and pollution reduction.
(b) Membership.--
(1) Size.--A Youth Advisory Council shall consist of not
fewer than 15, and not greater than 25, representative members
of non-Federal interests that have demonstrated high levels of
knowledge and expertise in environmental issues, to be
appointed by the applicable covered agency head.
(2) Requirements.--
(A) Age.--A member of a Youth Advisory Council
shall have an age, at the time of appointment or
reappointment under paragraph (4), of not less than 16
years and not more than 29 years.
(B) Geographic diversity required.--A covered
agency head shall seek to ensure that members of a
Youth Advisory Council are from geographically diverse
locations across the United States.
(C) Consideration of backgrounds.--
(i) In general.--In selecting members of a
Youth Advisory Council, a covered agency head
shall consider candidates with varying
backgrounds, including--
(I) business and industry;
(II) academic institutions;
(III) State, local, and Tribal
governments;
(IV) public interest groups;
(V) environmental organizations;
and
(VI) service groups.
(ii) Requirement.--Of the members of a
Youth Advisory Council, not more than 60
percent may come from any 1 category described
in clause (i).
(D) Representation of disadvantaged communities.--
Of the members of a Youth Advisory Council, not less
than 50 percent shall come from, reside primarily in,
or work primarily in disadvantaged communities.
(E) Diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility
considerations.--In selecting members of a Youth
Advisory Council, a covered agency head shall consider
diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility, in
accordance with Executive Order 14035 (42 U.S.C. 2000e
note; relating to diversity, equity, inclusion, and
accessibility in the Federal workforce).
(3) Term.--A member of a Youth Advisory Council shall serve
for a term of 2 years.
(4) Reappointment.--A covered agency head may reappoint
members of a Youth Advisory Council to that Youth Advisory
Council.
(5) Vacancies.--A vacancy in a Youth Advisory Council--
(A) shall not affect the powers of the Youth
Advisory Council; and
(B) shall be filled in the same manner as the
original appointment.
(6) Designated federal officer.--Each covered agency head
shall appoint a full-time employee of the agency of the covered
agency head to serve as the designated Federal officer for the
applicable Youth Advisory Council.
(7) Co-chairpersons; vice-chairpersons.--Each covered
agency head shall, from among the members of the applicable
Youth Advisory Council, appoint 2 co-chairpersons and 2 vice-
chairpersons.
(c) Meetings.--
(1) Frequency.--A Youth Advisory Council shall meet at the
call of the applicable designated Federal officer, but not less
frequently than annually.
(2) Open meetings.--The meetings of a Youth Advisory
Council shall be open to the public unless the covered agency
head determines, in accordance with section 552b(c) of title 5,
United States Code, to close a meeting or portion of a meeting.
(3) Agenda.--The agenda of a meeting of a Youth Advisory
Council shall be approved in advance by the applicable
designated Federal officer.
(4) Requirement.--A Youth Advisory Council or subcommittee
of a Youth Advisory Council may not meet without the presence
of the applicable designated Federal officer (or a designee).
(5) Public participation.--A person interested in the
proceedings of a Youth Advisory Council or interested in
providing comment on a matter before a Youth Advisory Council
may--
(A) attend meetings of the Youth Advisory Council;
(B) appear before the Youth Advisory Council; and
(C) file written comments with the Youth Advisory
Council.
(6) Adjournment.--The designated Federal officer for a
Youth Advisory Council may adjourn the meeting of the Youth
Advisory Council if the designated Federal officer determines
it is in the public interest to do so.
(d) Subcommittees.--A Youth Advisory Council may establish
subcommittees as determined appropriate by the Youth Advisory Council.
(e) Education.--Each covered agency head shall develop and provide
to members of the Youth Advisory Council an educational curriculum,
which shall include briefings on the organizational structure and work
of the agency of the covered agency head.
(f) Reports.--Not less frequently than annually, a Youth Advisory
Council shall submit to the applicable covered agency head a report
describing any recommendations of the Youth Advisory Council made in
accordance with subsection (a).
(g) Administrative Support.--The agency of a covered agency head
shall provide administrative support to the Youth Advisory Council of
the agency.
(h) Applicability of FACA.--Section 1013 of title 5, United States
Code, shall not apply to a Youth Advisory Council.
(i) Applicability to Existing Councils.--The Administrator of the
Environmental Protection Agency may, in accordance with this Act,
designate the National Environmental Youth Advisory Council as the
Youth Advisory Council of the Environmental Protection Agency.
SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There is authorized to be appropriated $250,000 to each of the
Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of the Interior, the
Department of Energy, the Department of Agriculture, and the Department
of Commerce for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2035 for the purpose
of carrying out this Act.
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