119-hr2946

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2946 Introduced in House

    (IH) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
 H. R. 2946

 To direct the Secretary of the Treasury to issue Clean Energy Victory 
 Bonds.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 April 17, 2025

Ms. Lofgren (for herself and Ms. Matsui) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition 
 to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, and Science, Space, and 
Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, 
 in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the 
 jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

 A BILL

 To direct the Secretary of the Treasury to issue Clean Energy Victory 
 Bonds.

 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

 This Act may be cited as the ``Clean Energy Victory Bond Act of 
2025''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

 Congress finds the following:

    (1) Potential exists for increasing clean and renewable 
 energy production and energy efficiency installation in the 
 United States.

    (2) Other nations, including China and Germany, are ahead 
 of the United States in manufacturing and deploying various 
 clean energy technologies, even though many of these 
 technologies were invented in the United States.

    (3) Climate change represents an existential threat to the 
 safety, security, and economy of the United States. Rapid and 
 robust deployment of clean energy will reduce greenhouse gas 
 emissions and mitigate the effects of climate change on 
 American society.

    (4) Many segments of the American public want to take 
 charge of efforts to combat the effects of climate change and 
 practice responsible consumer behavior.

    (5) The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy of 
 the Department of Energy (referred to in this section as the 
 ``EERE'') estimates that taxpayer investment of $12,000,000,000 
 into the EERE research and development portfolio has already 
 yielded an estimated net economic benefit to the United States 
 of more than $230,000,000,000, with an overall annual return on 
 investment of more than 20 percent.

    (6) Investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency 
 projects in the United States create green jobs throughout the 
 Nation. New and innovative jobs could be created through 
 expanded government support for clean energy and energy 
 efficiency.

    (7) As Americans choose energy efficiency and clean energy 
 and transportation, it reduces our dependence on foreign oil 
 and improves our energy security.

    (8) Bonds are a low-cost method for encouraging clean 
 energy, as they do not require direct budget allocations or 
 expenditures. The projects supported through Clean Energy 
 Victory Bonds will create jobs and business revenues that will 
 increase Federal tax revenues, while simultaneously reducing 
 nationwide health and environmental costs incurred by the 
 Federal Government.

    (9) Bonds are voluntary measures that allow Americans to 
 contribute financially in whatever amount is available to them.

    (10) During World War II, over 80 percent of American 
 households purchased Victory Bonds to support the war effort, 
 raising over $185,000,000,000, or over $2,000,000,000,000 in 
 today's dollars.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

 For purposes of this Act:

    (1) Clean energy project.--The term ``clean energy 
 project'' means a technology that provides--
        (A) performance-based energy efficiency 
 improvements; or
        (B) clean energy improvements, including--
            (i) electricity generated from solar, wind, 
 geothermal, small-scale hydropower, and 
 hydrokinetic energy sources;
            (ii) fuel cells using non-fossil fuel 
 sources;
            (iii) advanced storage technologies; and
            (iv) electric vehicle infrastructure.

    (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
 of the Treasury or the Secretary's delegate.

SEC. 4. CLEAN ENERGY VICTORY BONDS.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 6 months after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with the 
Secretary of Energy and the Secretary of Defense, shall issue bonds to 
be known as ``Clean Energy Victory Bonds'', the proceeds from which 
shall be used to carry out the purposes described in 

section 9512
            (c) of 
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (as added by 

section 5).

    (b) Savings Bond.--Any Clean Energy Victory Bond issued under this 
section shall be issued by the Secretary--

    (1) as a savings bond of series EE, or as administered by 
 the Bureau of the Fiscal Service of the Department of the 
 Treasury, in a manner consistent with the provisions of 

section 3105 of title 31, United States Code; and

    (2) in denominations of $25 and such other amounts as are 
 determined appropriate by the Secretary, and shall mature 
 within such periods as determined by the Secretary.
            (c) Amount of Clean Energy Victory Bonds.--The aggregate face 
amount of the Clean Energy Victory Bonds issued annually under this 
section shall be not greater than $50,000,000,000.
            (d) Interest.--Clean Energy Victory Bonds shall bear interest at 
the rate the Secretary sets for Savings Bonds of Series EE and Series 
I, plus a rate of return determined by the Secretary which is based on 
the valuation of--

    (1) savings achieved through reduced energy spending by the 
 Federal Government resulting from clean energy projects funded 
 from the proceeds of such bonds; and

    (2) interest collected on loans financed or guaranteed from 
 the proceeds of such bonds.

    (e) Full Faith and Credit.--Payment of interest and principal with 
respect to any Clean Energy Victory Bond issued under this section 
shall be made from the general fund of the Treasury of the United 
States and shall be backed by the full faith and credit of the United 
States.

    (f) Promotion.--

    (1) In general.--The Secretary shall take such actions, 
 independently and in conjunction with financial institutions 
 offering Clean Energy Victory Bonds, to promote the purchase of 
 Clean Energy Victory Bonds, including campaigns describing the 
 financial and social benefits of purchasing Clean Energy 
 Victory Bonds.

    (2) Promotional activities.--For purposes of paragraph

    (1) , 
 promotional activities may include advertisements, pamphlets, 
 or other promotional materials--
        (A) in periodicals;
        (B) on billboards and other outdoor venues;
            (C) on television;
            (D) on radio;
        (E) on the internet;
        (F) within financial institutions; or
        (G) any other venues or outlets the Secretary may 
 identify.

SEC. 5. CLEAN ENERGY VICTORY BONDS TRUST FUND.

    (a) In General.--Subchapter A of chapter 98 of the Internal Revenue 
Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

``

SEC. 9512. CLEAN ENERGY VICTORY BONDS TRUST FUND.

 ``

    (a) Creation of Trust Fund.--There is established in the Treasury 
of the United States a trust fund to be known as the `Clean Energy 
Victory Bonds Trust Fund', consisting of such amounts as may be 
apportioned or credited to such Trust Fund as provided in this section 
or 

section 9602

    (b) .
 ``

    (b) Transfers to Trust Fund.--There are hereby appropriated to 
the Trust Fund--
 ``

    (1) amounts equivalent to revenue from the issuance of 
 Clean Energy Victory Bonds under 

section 4 of the Clean Energy 
 Victory Bond Act of 2025, and
 ``

    (2) any gifts or bequests made to the Trust Fund which 
 are accepted by the Secretary for the benefit of such Fund or 
 any activity financed through such Fund.
 ``
            (c) Expenditures From Trust Fund.--Amounts in the Trust Fund 
shall be available, without further appropriation, to finance clean 
energy projects (as defined in 

section 3 of the Clean Energy Victory 
Bond Act of 2025) at the Federal, State, and local level, which may 
include--
 ``

    (1) providing additional support to existing Federal 
 financing programs available to States for energy efficiency 
 upgrades and clean energy deployment,
 ``

    (2) providing funding for clean energy investments by all 
 Federal agencies,
 ``

    (3) providing funding for electric grid enhancements and 
 connections that enable clean energy deployment,
 ``

    (4) providing funding to renovate existing inefficient 
 buildings or building new energy efficient buildings,
 ``

    (5) providing tax incentives and tax credits for clean 
 energy technologies,
 ``

    (6) providing funding for new innovation research, 
 including ARPA-E, public competitions similar to those designed 
 by the X Prize Foundation, grants provided through the Office 
 of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy of the Department of 
 Energy, or other mechanisms to fund revolutionary clean energy 
 technology,
 ``

    (7) providing additional support to existing Federal, 
 State, and local grant programs that finance clean energy 
 projects, and
 ``

    (8) providing funding for zero-emission vehicle 
 infrastructure and manufacturing.
 ``
            (d) Project Priority.--
 ``

    (1) In general.--The Secretary shall ensure that not less 
 than 40 percent of the amounts expended under subsection
            (c) in 
 each year are expended for clean energy projects which are 
 located in and reduce energy rates in disadvantaged and 
 vulnerable communities.
 ``

    (2) Disadvantaged and vulnerable communities.--For 
 purposes of paragraph

    (1) , the term `disadvantaged and 
 vulnerable communities' means communities--
 ``
        (A) which bear disproportionate burdens of 
 negative public health effects, environmental 
 pollution, or impacts of climate change,
 ``
        (B) have significant representation of people of 
 color, low-wealth individuals, or Tribal and Indigenous 
 members, or
 ``
            (C) which have a high concentration of low- and 
 moderate-income households as compared to other 
 communities,
 as determined by the Secretary.''.

    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for subchapter A of 
chapter 98 of such Code is amended by adding at the end the following 
new item:

``

Sec. 9512. Clean Energy Victory Bonds Trust Fund.''.
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