Rural Energy for America Act of 2007
Latest action · May 31, 2007 Executive Comment Requested from USDA.
Progress
Where this bill reached, and when. A stage with no date was not reached; one that failed a vote and later carried shows the date it carried.
- IntroducedMay 3, 2007
- Passed HouseNot reached
- Passed SenateNot reached
- To the PresidentNot reached
- Became lawNot reached
Summary
Rural Energy for America Act of 2007 - Amends the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to rename the renewable energy systems and energy efficiency improvements program as the rural energy for America program (REAP).
Makes rural school districts eligible for REAP.
Authorizes REAP assistance to produce and sell electricity generated by new renewable energy systems.
Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to make grants to eligible entities to provide rebates for farmers, ranchers, rural school districts, and rural small businesses to purchase renewable energy systems and make energy efficiency improvements. Defines eligible entities as: (1) a state energy or agriculture office; (2) a nonprofit state-based energy efficiency or renewable energy organization that uses public funds provided directly or under contract with a state agency; (3) any other nonprofit organization with a demonstrated ability to administer a statewide energy efficiency or renewable energy rebate program; or (4) a consortium of such entities. Limits rebates to the lower of $10,000 or 50% of the cost to purchase a renewable energy system or an energy efficiency improvement.Extends REAP funding through FY 2012 with set-asides for the rebate program.
Expresses the sense of the Senate that the Secretary should implement a direct loan program to complement REAP grants.
Cosponsors 7
Members who signed on, in the order they did. Signatures ran from May 3, 2007 to Jun 3, 2008; 2 are original cosponsors, there from the day it was introduced.
| Seat | Cosponsor | Signed on | |
|---|---|---|---|
| R-NE | Jeff Fortenberry | Original | May 3, 2007 |
| D-OH | Marcy Kaptur | Original | May 3, 2007 |
| D-IN | Joe Donnelly | May 10, 2007 | |
| D-GA | Jim Marshall | May 16, 2007 | |
| D-MN | Timothy J. Walz | Jun 15, 2007 | |
| R-NY | John R. "Randy" Kuhl Jr. | Jul 10, 2007 | |
| R-IN | Dan Burton | Jun 3, 2008 |
Committees 1
Where it was sent and what each committee and subcommittee did with it, in order.
| Chamber | Committee | What it did |
|---|---|---|
| House | Agriculture Committee | Referred May 3, 2007 |
| Forestry and Horticulture Subcommittee | Referred May 31, 2007 |
Actions 4
Everything that happened, newest first.
- May 31, 2007Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation, Credit, Energy, and Research.
- May 31, 2007Executive Comment Requested from USDA.
- May 3, 2007Introduced in House
- May 3, 2007Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
Research
What has been written about this bill: committee reports, cost estimates, the sponsor’s authority statement, printed hearings and the Congressional Research Service’s work.
Printed hearings 1
Hearings whose printed record names this bill, newest first: hearings on it, and wider hearings where it came up.
| Number | Hearing | Committee | Held |
|---|---|---|---|
| S. Hrg. 110-156 | FARM BILL POLICY PROPOSALS RELATING TO FARM AND RURAL ENERGY ISSUES AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT329 pages | Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee | May 9, 2007 |
Titles 2
Every title it has carried, official and short, at each stage.
- Official Title as Introduced
- To enhance and improve the energy security of the United States, expand economic development, increase agricultural income, and improve environmental quality by reauthorizing and improving the renewable energy systems and energy efficiency improvements program of the Department of Agriculture through fiscal year 2012, and for other purposes.
- Short Titles as Introduced
- Rural Energy for America Act of 2007
Subjects
Assigned by the Library of Congress. Policy area: Energy.
- Agricultural subsidies
- Agriculture and Food
- Alternative energy sources
- Biomass energy
- Cellulose
- Commerce
- Economics and Public Finance
- Education
- Electric power production
- Elementary and secondary education
- Energy
- Energy efficiency
- Farmers
- Federally-guaranteed loans
- Government lending
- Housing and Community Development
- Nonprofit organizations
- Rebates
- Rural education
- School districts
- Small business
- Social Welfare
Text 1
Each version as it was printed, newest first.
- May 3, 2007Introduced in House
Everything here is as published by Congress: the summary is the Congressional Research Service's, the action wording is the clerks', and the subjects are the Library of Congress's. How far it got is read from the actions themselves, taking the most recent one of each kind, so a bill that failed a vote and later passed is shown as having passed. Records come from this bill on Congress.gov and govinfo.gov; cost estimates are the Congressional Budget Office's, and the hearings are the printed hearings GovInfo publishes, which can appear months after the hearing.
