H.R. 3849

[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3849 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3849

To amend the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to modify 
provisions relating to the rural energy savings program.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

June 6, 2023

Mr. Clyburn (for himself and Ms. Budzinski) introduced the following 
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in 
addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, 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 amend the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to modify 
provisions relating to the rural energy savings program.

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 ``Rural Energy Savings Act''.

SEC. 2. RURAL ENERGY SAVINGS PROGRAM MODIFICATIONS.

Section 6407 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 
(7 U.S.C. 8107a) is amended--
(1) in subsection (b)--
(A) in paragraph (1)--
(i) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``or'' 
at the end;
(ii) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as 
subparagraph (E); and
(iii) by inserting after subparagraph (B) 
the following:
``(C) any Indian Tribe (as defined in section 4 of 
the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance 
Act (25 U.S.C. 5304));
``(D) any public, quasipublic, or nonprofit entity 
that uses innovative financing techniques and market 
development tools to accelerate the deployment of clean 
energy technology (commonly known as a `green bank'); 
and''; and
(B) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the 
following:
``(2) Energy efficiency measure.--The term `energy 
efficiency measure', with respect to any property served by an 
eligible entity, means--
``(A) a structural improvement or investment in a 
cost-effective, commercial technology to increase 
energy efficiency (including cost-effective on- or off-
grid renewable energy or energy storage systems); and
``(B) the replacement of a manufactured housing 
unit or large appliance with a substantially similar 
manufactured housing unit or appliance, respectively, 
if that replacement is a cost-effective option with 
respect to energy savings.'';
(2) in subsection (c)--
(A) in the subsection heading, by inserting ``and 
Grants'' after ``Loans'';
(B) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the 
following:
``(1) In general.--Subject to the requirements of this 
subsection, the Secretary shall provide--
``(A) loans to eligible entities that agree to use 
the loan funds to make loans under subsection (d) to 
qualified consumers for the purpose of implementing 
energy efficiency measures; and
``(B) at the election of any eligible entity that 
receives a loan under subparagraph (A), a grant in 
accordance with paragraph (10).'';
(C) in paragraph (2)--
(i) in the paragraph heading, by inserting 
``for loans'' after ``Requirements''; and
(ii) in subparagraph (A)(i), by striking 
``that is'';
(D) in paragraph (5)--
(i) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and 
(B) as clauses (i) and (ii), respectively, and 
indenting the clauses appropriately;
(ii) in the matter preceding clause (i) (as 
so redesignated), by striking ``With respect to 
a loan under paragraph (1)'' and inserting the 
following:
``(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), 
with respect to a loan under paragraph (1)(A)''; and
(iii) by adding at the end the following:
``(B) Extensions.--The Secretary may extend the 
term of a loan under subparagraph (A)(i), or the 
deadline for the repayment of an advance under 
subparagraph (A)(ii), as the Secretary determines to be 
appropriate.'';
(E) in paragraph (7)--
(i) in subparagraph (B), by striking 
``paragraph (1)'' and inserting ``paragraph 
(1)(A)''; and
(ii) in subparagraph (C), in the matter 
preceding clause (i), by striking ``Repayment 
of the special advance'' and inserting 
``Subject to an applicable extension under 
paragraph (5)(B), repayment of a special 
advance under this paragraph'';
(F) in paragraph (8), by striking ``paragraph (1)'' 
and inserting ``paragraph (1)(A)''; and
(G) by adding at the end the following:
``(10) Grants.--
``(A) In general.--At the election of an eligible 
entity that receives a loan under this subsection, the 
Secretary shall provide to the eligible entity a grant 
to pay for a portion of the costs incurred in--
``(i) applying for the loan;
``(ii) making a loan to a qualified 
consumer under subsection (d);
``(iii) making repairs to the property of a 
qualified consumer that facilitate the energy 
efficiency measures for the property financed 
through a loan provided to the qualified 
consumer under subsection (d);
``(iv) entering into a contract under 
subsection (e); or
``(v) carrying out any other duties of the 
eligible entity under this section.
``(B) Amount.--
``(i) In general.--Except as provided in 
clause (ii), the amount of a grant provided to 
an eligible entity under this paragraph shall 
be equal to not more than 5 percent of the 
amount of the loan provided to the eligible 
entity under this subsection.
``(ii) Persistent poverty counties.--The 
amount of a grant provided under this paragraph 
to an eligible entity that will use the grant 
to make loans under subsection (d) to qualified 
consumers located in a persistent poverty 
county (as determined by the Secretary) shall 
be equal to 10 percent of the amount of the 
loan provided to the eligible entity under this 
subsection.'';
(3) in subsection (d)--
(A) in paragraph (1)--
(i) in the matter preceding subparagraph 
(A), by inserting ``or grant'' before 
``funds'';
(ii) in subparagraph (B)--
(I) by striking ``(B) shall 
finance'' and inserting the following:
``(B)(i) may have a term and amortization schedule 
the length of which is the useful life of the energy 
efficiency measures implemented using the loan, 
provided that the loan to the qualified consumer does 
not exceed 20 years; and
``(ii) shall finance''; and
(II) in clause (ii) (as so 
designated), by striking ``a loan term 
of not more than 10 years'' and 
inserting ``the applicable loan term 
described in clause (i)''; and
(iii) in subparagraph (C), by striking 
``unless the personal property is or becomes 
attached to real property (including a 
manufactured home) as a fixture;'' and 
inserting ``unless the personal property--
``(i) is a manufactured housing unit or 
large appliance described in subsection 
(b)(2)(B); or
``(ii) is or becomes attached to real 
property as a fixture;''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
``(3) Clarification of eligibility.--Notwithstanding any 
other provision of law (including regulations), an eligible 
entity may make a loan under this subsection to any qualified 
consumer located within the service territory of the eligible 
entity, regardless of whether the qualified consumer is located 
in a rural area.'';
(4) in subsection (e)--
(A) in the subsection heading, by inserting 
``Outreach,'' after ``Training,'';
(B) in paragraph (1)--
(i) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``and 
technical assistance of the program'' and 
inserting ``outreach, and technical assistance 
relating to the program under this section''; 
and
(ii) in subparagraph (B)(ii), by inserting 
``, outreach,'' after ``technical assistance''; 
and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(3) Funding.--Of the amounts made available under 
subsection (i), the Secretary may use such sums as are 
necessary to provide outreach, training, and technical 
assistance under this subsection.''; and
(5) in subsection (i), by striking ``2023'' and inserting 
``2033''.
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