text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``Department of Environmental 
  Protection Act''.
  
  SEC. 2. REDESIGNATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY AS DEPARTMENT 
                OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION.
  
      (a) Redesignation.--The Environmental Protection Agency is 
  redesignated as the Department of Environmental Protection (hereinafter 
  in this Act referred to as the ``Department''), and shall be an 
  executive department in the executive branch of the Government.
      (b) Secretary of Environmental Protection.--(1) There shall be at 
  the head of the Department a Secretary of Environmental Protection 
  (hereinafter in this Act referred to as the ``Secretary'') who shall be 
  appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the 
  Senate, except as provided in paragraph (2).
      (2) If so designated by the President, the individual who has been 
  nominated and confirmed and is serving as the Administrator of the 
  Environmental Protection Agency on the date of enactment of this Act 
  shall become the Secretary of Environmental Protection, without 
  reconfirmation by the Senate.
      (c) Transfer of Function, Powers, and Duties.--The functions, 
  powers, and duties of each officer and employee of the Environmental 
  Protection Agency are transferred to and vested in the corresponding 
  officer or employee of the Department.
      (d) Delegation of Authority.--The Secretary may, consistent with 
  other laws--
              (1) delegate any functions, powers, or duties, including 
          the promulgation of regulations, to such officers and employees 
          of the Department as the Secretary may designate; and
              (2) authorize such successive redelegations of such 
          functions, powers, or duties within the Department as the 
          Secretary considers necessary or appropriate.
  
  SEC. 3. REFERENCES.
  
      Any reference in any other Federal law, Executive order, rule, 
  regulation, reorganization plan, or delegation of authority, or in any 
  document--
              (1) to the Environmental Protection Agency is deemed to 
          refer to the Department of Environmental Protection;
              (2) to the Administrator of the Environmental Protection 
          Agency is deemed to refer to the Secretary of Environmental 
          Protection; and
              (3) to a subordinate official of the Environmental 
          Protection Agency is deemed to refer to the corresponding 
          official of the Department of Environmental Protection.
  
  SEC. 4. SAVINGS PROVISIONS.
  
      (a) Continuing Effect of Legal Documents.--All orders, 
  determinations, rules, regulations, permits, grants, contracts, 
  certificates, licenses, privileges, agreements, registrations, and 
  other administrative actions--
              (1) which have been issued, made, granted or allowed to 
          become effective by the President, the Administrator or other 
          authorized official of the Environmental Protection Agency, or 
          by a court of competent jurisdiction, which relate to functions 
          of the Administrator or any other officer or agent of the 
          Environmental Protection Agency actions; and
              (2) which are in effect on the date of the enactment of 
          this Act,
  shall continue in effect according to their terms until modified, 
  terminated, superseded, set aside, or revoked in accordance with law by 
  the President, the Secretary, or other authorized official, by a court 
  of competent jurisdiction, or by operation of law.
      (b) Proceedings not Affected.--(1) This Act shall not affect any 
  proceeding, proposed rule, or application for any license, permit, 
  certificate, registration, or financial assistance pending before the 
  Environmental Protection Agency on the date of the enactment of this 
  Act, and the effect of any such proceeding, proposed rule, or 
  application shall continue. Orders shall be issued, and final 
  determinations shall be made, in any such proceeding, proposed rule, or 
  application, appeals shall be taken therefrom, and payments shall be 
  made pursuant to such orders, as if this Act had not been enacted, and 
  orders issued with respect to any such proceeding, proposed rule, or 
  application shall continue in effect until modified, terminated, 
  superseded, or revoked by a duly authorized official, by a court of 
  competent jurisdiction, or by operation of law.
      (2) Nothing in this subsection prohibits the discontinuance or 
  modification of any such proceeding, proposed rule, or application 
  under the same terms and conditions and to the same extent that such 
  proceeding, proposed rule, or application could have been discontinued 
  or modified if this Act had not been enacted.
      (c) Suits not Affected.--The provisions of this Act shall not 
  affect suits commenced before the date of enactment of this Act, and in 
  all such suits, proceedings shall be had, appeals taken, and judgments 
  rendered in the same manner and with the same effect as if this Act had 
  not been enacted.
      (d) Nonabatement of Actions.--No suit, action, or other proceeding 
  commenced before the date of enactment of this Act by or against the 
  Environmental Protection Agency, or by or against any individual in the 
  official capacity of such individual as an officer of the Environmental 
  Protection Agency, shall abate by reason of the enactment of this Act.
      (e) Property and Resources.--The contracts, liabilities, records, 
  property, and other assets and interests of the Environmental 
  Protection Agency shall, after the date of enactment of this Act, be 
  considered to be the contracts, liabilities, records, property, and 
  other assets and interests of the Department of Environmental 
  Protection.
  
  SEC. 5. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.
  
      After consultation with the appropriate committees of Congress, the 
  Secretary shall prepare and submit to Congress proposed legislation 
  containing necessary and appropriate technical and conforming 
  amendments to the laws of the United States, to reflect the changes 
  made by this Act. Such proposed legislation shall be submitted not 
  later than one year after the date of enactment of this Act.
target: Department of Environmental Protection Act - Redesignates the Environmental Protection Agency as an executive department, the Department of Environmental Protection, to be headed by a Secretary of Environmental Protection who shall be appointed by the President.
feat_title: To elevate the Environmental Protection Agency to Cabinet-level status and redesignate such agency as the Department of Environmental Protection.