Energy Emergency Leadership Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 7258
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Energy
- Status
- Passed House
- Latest Action
- 2026-06-29: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-01T08:06:42Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This legislation amends the Department of Energy Organization Act to formally assign energy emergency and security responsibilities to Assistant Secretaries within the Department of Energy (DOE). It aims to strengthen federal handling of energy-related threats and support for non-federal entities.
Key Provisions
- New functions added: Subsection (a) of section 203 (42 U.S.C. 7133(a)) gains a new paragraph (12) covering energy emergency and security duties, including:
- Oversight of energy infrastructure security, resilience, emerging threats, cybersecurity, supply issues, and emergency planning, preparedness, coordination, response, and restoration.
- Technical assistance to state, local, or Tribal governments and energy sector entities upon request, coordinated with other federal agencies, to address threats, risks, and incidents.
- Coordination requirement: The Secretary of Energy must ensure these new functions align with relevant federal agencies.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
The bill introduces an explicit expansion of Assistant Secretaries' roles by adding paragraph (12) to existing statutory duties. Prior law did not list these specific energy emergency functions, making this a formal assignment of responsibilities that were previously unenumerated in this section.
Potential Impacts
- On government agencies: Enhances DOE's internal structure for emergency response while requiring coordination with other federal bodies, potentially improving interagency efficiency but increasing administrative workload.
- On citizens and energy sector: Provides a framework for technical support to protect energy systems, which could benefit public safety and infrastructure stability during crises.
- On international relations: No direct provisions address foreign entities, though improved domestic energy security may indirectly support U.S. energy policy abroad.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- The Department of Energy and its Assistant Secretaries.
- Other federal agencies involved in energy or security matters.
- State, local, and Tribal governments.
- Energy sector entities seeking technical assistance.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
The changes operate within existing executive branch authority under the DOE Organization Act, with no apparent constitutional conflicts. The emphasis on coordination may promote clearer federal roles in energy security without creating new regulatory powers.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (4)
Rep. Walberg, Tim [R-MI-5], Rep. Landsman, Greg [D-OH-1], Rep. Balderson, Troy [R-OH-12], Rep. Onder, Robert F. [R-MO-3]
Recent Actions
- 2026-06-29: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- 2026-06-29: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4298)
- 2026-06-29: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4298)
- 2026-06-29: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 7258.
- 2026-06-29: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4297-4298)
- 2026-06-29: Mr. Guthrie moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
- 2026-05-11: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 562.
- 2026-05-11: Reported by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 119-645.
- 2026-05-11: Reported by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 119-645.
- 2026-02-04: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote.
- 2026-02-04: Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- 2026-01-27: Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy.
- 2026-01-27: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- 2026-01-27: Introduced in House
- 2026-01-27: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Energy Emergency Leadership Act — issued 2026-06-29 — PDF (4 pages)
- Energy Emergency Leadership Act — issued 2026-01-27 — PDF (2 pages)
- Energy Emergency Leadership Act — issued 2026-05-11 — PDF (6 pages)