text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``Biennial Commission on Energy Policy 
  Act of 2013''.
  
  SEC. 2. AMENDMENT TO DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY ORGANIZATION ACT.
  
      (a) In General.--Title VIII of the Department of Energy 
  Organization Act (42 U.S.C. 7321) is amended by striking sections 801 
  and 802 and inserting the following new sections:
  
  ``SEC. 801. BIENNIAL COMMISSION ON ENERGY POLICY.
  
      ``(a) Establishment.--There is established a commission to be known 
  as the `Biennial Commission on Energy Policy' (in this title referred 
  to as the `Commission').
      ``(b) Membership.--
              ``(1) Number and appointment.--The Commission shall be 
          composed of 15 members appointed in the following manner--
                      ``(A) The President shall appoint 3 members.
                      ``(B) The Speaker of the House of Representatives 
                  shall appoint 3 members.
                      ``(C) The minority leader of the House of 
                  Representatives shall appoint 3 members.
                      ``(D) The majority leader of the Senate shall 
                  appoint 3 members.
                      ``(E) The minority leader of the Senate shall 
                  appoint 3 members.
              ``(2) Deadline for appointment.--Members of the Commission 
          shall be appointed not later 30 days after the first day of the 
          first session of the 114th Congress.
              ``(3) Terms.--Members shall be appointed for a term of 2 
          years.
              ``(4) Consultation.--The President and Members of Congress 
          specified in paragraph (1) shall consult with each other before 
          appointing members to the Commission to achieve, to the maximum 
          extent practicable, a diversity of experience and expertise in 
          the membership of the Commission.
              ``(5) Vacancies.--Any vacancy on the Commission shall not 
          affect its powers, but shall be filled in the same manner in 
          which the original appointment was made. A member appointed to 
          fill a vacancy occurring before the expiration of the term for 
          which such member's predecessor was appointed shall be 
          appointed for the remainder of that term.
              ``(6) Qualifications.--Each member appointed to the 
          Commission shall have professional experience in 1 or more of 
          the following areas:
                      ``(A) Governmental service.
                      ``(B) Energy production.
                      ``(C) Renewable energy resource development.
                      ``(D) Energy law.
                      ``(E) Public administration.
                      ``(F) Fossil fuel production.
                      ``(G) Energy efficiency.
                      ``(H) Environmental policy.
                      ``(I) Labor.
                      ``(J) Workplace safety.
                      ``(K) Commerce and trade.
                      ``(L) Corporate policies.
                      ``(M) Infrastructure.
                      ``(N) Foreign affairs.
              ``(7) Political affiliation.--Not more than 8 members of 
          the Commission shall be affiliated with the same political 
          party.
              ``(8) Restriction on government employees.--No individual 
          may serve as a member of the Commission while employed as an 
          officer or employee of the Federal Government or any State or 
          local government.
              ``(9) Basic pay.--Each member of the Commission shall be 
          compensated at a rate equal to the daily equivalent of the 
          annual rate of basic pay prescribed for level IV of the 
          Executive Schedule for each day (including travel time) during 
          which the member is engaged in the performance of the duties of 
          the Commission.
              ``(10) Travel expenses.--Each member of the Commission 
          shall receive travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of 
          subsistence, in accordance with applicable provisions under 
          subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code.
      ``(c) Structure of Commission.--
              ``(1) Commencement.--The Commission shall meet and begin 
          operations not later than 30 days after the date on which all 
          members of the Commission have been appointed.
              ``(2) Chairperson; vice chairperson.--The chairperson and 
          vice chairperson of the Commission shall be selected by the 
          members.
              ``(3) Subcommittees.--Upon majority vote of the members, 
          the Commission may create subcommittees composed of less than 
          the full membership of the Commission to carry out specified 
          duties of the Commission.
              ``(4) Quorum.--Six members of the Commission shall 
          constitute a quorum.
              ``(5) Meetings.--
                      ``(A) In general.--After its initial meeting, the 
                  Commission shall meet upon the call of the chairperson 
                  or a majority of its members.
                      ``(B) Stakeholder meetings.--The Commission shall 
                  conduct a quarterly meeting of stakeholders to assist 
                  the Commission in carrying out its duties. The first 
                  meeting shall be held not later than 90 days after the 
                  date on which all members of the Commission have been 
                  appointed. Subsequent meetings shall be held until the 
                  Commission submits its final report.
                      ``(C) Attendance at stakeholder meetings.--Members 
                  shall be encouraged to attend stakeholder meetings held 
                  pursuant to subparagraph (B) either in person or via 
                  teleconference.
  
  ``SEC. 802. DUTIES AND POWERS OF THE COMMISSION.
  
      ``(a) Duties.--
              ``(1) In general.--The Commission shall carry out the tasks 
          described in paragraph (2) and make recommendations for 
          legislative and administrative actions to create an integrated 
          and comprehensive energy policy for the United States.
              ``(2) Tasks.--To carry out paragraph (1), the Commission 
          shall--
                      ``(A) analyze the accessibility, affordability, 
                  reliability, resiliency, and sustainability of the 
                  energy sources in the United States, including coal, 
                  oil, natural gas, wind, solar, nuclear, hydropower, 
                  geothermal, and biofuels;
                      ``(B) assess policy options to increase domestic 
                  energy supplies and energy efficiency;
                      ``(C) evaluate energy storage, transmission, and 
                  distribution requirements that shall include 
                  intermittent energy sources;
                      ``(D) analyze the prospective role of stakeholders, 
                  including academia, industry representatives, the 
                  public, Federal laboratories (as defined in section 4 
                  of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 
                  1980 (15 U.S.C. 3703)), and Federal agencies in 
                  creating an integrated and comprehensive energy policy;
                      ``(E) assess the effectiveness of and need for 
                  energy programs, including tax incentives, funding 
                  mechanisms, and energy subsidies;
                      ``(F) make recommendations for changes to the 
                  organization of executive branch entities to facilitate 
                  the development and implementation of national energy 
                  objectives;
                      ``(G) study relevant matters, as determined by the 
                  Commission, raised at the stakeholder meetings 
                  described in section 801(c)(5)(B); and
                      ``(H) study other relevant matters as determined by 
                  the Commission.
              ``(3) Materials studied.--The Commission shall review 
          materials on energy, including--
                      ``(A) enacted and proposed Federal and State laws, 
                  regulations, policies, and programs;
                      ``(B) information developed by relevant 
                  governmental and nongovernmental agencies, including 
                  Federal laboratories;
                      ``(C) scientific and technical literature and 
                  publications; and
                      ``(D) studies conducted by other entities.
      ``(b) Reports.--
              ``(1) Progress reports.--Not later than July 1 of the first 
          and third year of each Presidential term, the Commission shall 
          submit progress reports to Congress describing the activities 
          of the Commission and a summary of the information gathered 
          pursuant to subsection (a).
              ``(2) In general.--Not later than July 1 of the second and 
          fourth year of each Presidential term, the Commission shall 
          submit to Congress a report that shall include--
                      ``(A) the findings and conclusions of the 
                  Commission based on tasks carried out pursuant to 
                  subsection (a)(2); and
                      ``(B) recommendations for legislative and 
                  administrative actions described in subsection (a)(1).
              ``(3) Publication.--Reports submitted pursuant to paragraph 
          (2) shall be made publicly available via a website.
      ``(c) Powers.--
              ``(1) Hearings and sessions.--The Commission may, for the 
          purpose of carrying out this section, hold hearings, sit and 
          act at times and places, take testimony, and receive evidence 
          as the Commission considers appropriate. The Commission may 
          administer oaths or affirmations to witnesses appearing before 
          it.
              ``(2) Powers of subcommittees.--Any subcommittee created 
          pursuant to section 801(c)(3) may, if authorized by the 
          Commission, take any action which the Commission is authorized 
          to take by this title.
              ``(3) Gifts.--The Commission may accept, use, and dispose 
          of gifts or donations of services or property.
              ``(4) Postal services.--The Commission may use the United 
          States mails in the same manner and under the same conditions 
          as Federal departments and agencies.
              ``(5) Contract authority.--To the extent or in the amounts 
          provided in advance in appropriation Acts, the Commission may 
          contract with government and private agencies or persons for 
          the purpose of carrying out this section, without regard to 
          section 3709 of the Revised Statutes (41 U.S.C. 5).
              ``(6) Obtaining official data.--The Commission may secure 
          directly from any department or agency of the United States 
          information necessary to enable it to carry out this title. 
          Upon request of the chairperson, vice chairperson, or a 
          subcommittee of the Commission, the head of such department or 
          agency shall furnish such information to the Commission.
  
  ``SEC. 803. PERSONNEL MATTERS.
  
      ``(a) Executive Director and Staff.--The chairperson of the 
  Commission may, without regard to the provisions of title 5, United 
  States Code, governing appointments in the competitive service, appoint 
  and terminate an executive director and not more than five additional 
  staff members. The employment of an executive director shall be subject 
  to confirmation by the Commission.
      ``(b) Pay.--The chairperson of the Commission may fix the 
  compensation of the executive director and staff without regard to the 
  provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of title 5, 
  United States Code, relating to classification and General Schedule pay 
  rates, except that an individual appointed under paragraph (1) may not 
  receive pay in excess of the annual rate of basic pay for level V of 
  the Executive Schedule.
      ``(c) Detail of Government Employees.--Upon request of the 
  chairperson of the Commission, the head of any department or agency of 
  the Federal Government may detail, on a nonreimbursable basis, any 
  personnel of the department or agency to the Commission to assist the 
  Commission in carrying out its duties.
      ``(d) Procurement of Temporary and Intermittent Services.--The 
  chairperson of the Commission may procure temporary and intermittent 
  services under section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code, at rates 
  for individuals which do not exceed the daily equivalent of the annual 
  rate of basic pay prescribed for level IV of the Executive Schedule 
  under section 5316 of such title.
  
  ``SEC. 804. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
  
      ``There is authorized to be appropriated $3,000,000 to the 
  Secretary of Energy, without fiscal year limitation, to carry out this 
  title.''.
      (b) Table of Contents Amendments.--The table of contents of such 
  Act is amended by striking the items relating to sections 801 and 802 
  and inserting the following:
  
  ``801. Biennial Commission on Energy Policy.
  ``802. Duties and powers of the Commission.
  ``803. Personnel matters.
  ``804. Authorization of appropriations.''.
  
  SEC. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE.
  
      The amendments made by this Act shall take effect on the first day 
  of the first session of the 114th Congress.
target: Biennial Commission on Energy Policy Act of 2013 - Amends the Department of Energy Organization Act to establish the Biennial Commission on Energy Policy.   Directs the Commission to: (1) analyze the accessibility, affordability, reliability, resiliency, and sustainability of energy sources in the United States, including coal, oil, natural gas, wind, solar, nuclear, hydropower, geothermal, and biofuels; (2) assess policy options to increase domestic energy supplies and energy efficiency; (3) evaluate energy storage, transmission, and distribution requirements including intermittent energy sources; (4) analyze the prospective role of stakeholders in creating an integrated and comprehensive energy policy, including academia, industry representatives, the public, and federal laboratories and agencies; (5) assess the effectiveness of and need for energy programs, including tax incentives, funding mechanisms, and energy subsidies; and (6) make recommendations for changes to the organization of executive branch entities to facilitate the development and implementation of national energy objectives.     
feat_title: Biennial Commission on Energy Policy Act of 2013