National Coal Council Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- S. 3335
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Energy
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-12-03: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
- Last Updated
- 2026-03-24T12:48:03Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The legislation aims to reestablish the National Coal Council within the Department of Energy (DOE). This council would serve as an advisory body, offering recommendations to the Secretary of Energy on issues related to coal production, use, and the broader coal industry.
Key Provisions
- Reestablishment of the Council: The Secretary of Energy is required to recreate the National Coal Council using the charter filed with Congress on June 16, 2025.
- Governance under Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA): The council must follow the rules of FACA (a law that sets standards for how federal advisory committees operate, ensuring transparency and public involvement), but it is exempt from Section 1013, which deals with certain termination provisions.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- This bill revives the National Coal Council, which was previously established but likely terminated (historical context suggests it existed from 1980 until around 2018). It restores an advisory mechanism that no longer exists, without introducing new regulatory powers—focusing solely on advice and recommendations.
- No major alterations to broader energy laws; it primarily reactivates a dormant advisory structure under existing DOE authority.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The DOE gains a formal advisory resource for coal-related policy, potentially informing decisions on energy strategy, mining regulations, and industry support without binding obligations.
- On Citizens and Industry: Coal producers, workers, and communities in coal-dependent regions could benefit from targeted input into federal policy, possibly influencing job preservation or transition efforts amid declining coal use. Broader energy consumers might see indirect effects through shaped DOE priorities.
- On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though coal policy advice could influence U.S. positions in global energy markets or trade discussions involving coal exports.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Department of Energy (DOE): Responsible for establishing and consulting the council.
- Coal Industry: Producers, miners, and related businesses, who gain a direct channel to influence federal advice on coal matters.
- Congress and Policymakers: The bill's sponsors (primarily senators from coal-producing states like North Dakota and Wyoming) and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, which oversees the legislation.
- Environmental and Labor Groups: Indirectly affected, as the council could shape debates on coal's role versus clean energy transitions.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Ensures the council operates transparently under FACA, promoting public access to meetings and records while avoiding conflicts of interest—standard for advisory bodies but reinforces DOE's administrative flexibility.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's authority to structure executive branch agencies (Article I), without raising separation-of-powers concerns as it creates a non-binding advisory role.
- Political: Highlights bipartisan support from coal-state representatives, potentially signaling efforts to sustain the coal sector amid energy shifts. It could spark debates on fossil fuel advocacy versus climate goals, though the bill remains neutral and advisory in nature.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (7)
Sen. Daines, Steve [R-MT], Sen. Justice, James C. [R-WV], Sen. Cramer, Kevin [R-ND], Sen. Lummis, Cynthia M. [R-WY], Sen. Barrasso, John [R-WY], Sen. Sheehy, Tim [R-MT], Sen. McCormick, David [R-PA]
Recent Actions
- 2025-12-03: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
- 2025-12-03: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- National Coal Council Act of 2025 — issued 2025-12-03 — PDF (2 pages)