Consultative Commission on Western Hemisphere Energy and Environment

Source Credit

(a) Findings
The Congress finds that—
(1) there is growing mutual economic interdependence among the countries of the Western Hemisphere;
(2) energy and environmental issues are intrinsically linked and must be considered together when formulating policy on the broader issue of sustainable economic development for the Western Hemisphere as a whole;
(3) when developing their respective energy infrastructures, countries in the Western Hemisphere must consider existing and emerging environmental constraints, and do so in a way that results in sustainable long-term economic growth;
(4) the coordination of respective national energy and environmental policies of the governments of the Western Hemisphere could be substantially improved through regular consultation among these countries;
(5) the development, production and consumption of energy can affect environmental quality, and the environmental consequences of energy-related activities are not confined within national boundaries, but are regional and global in scope;
(6) although the Western Hemisphere is richly endowed with indigenous energy resources, an insufficient energy supply would severely constrain future opportunities for sustainable economic development and growth in each of these member countries; and
(7) the energy markets of the United States are linked with those in other countries of the Western Hemisphere and the world.
(b) "Commission" defined
For purposes of this section, the term "Commission" means the Consultative Commission on Western Hemisphere Energy and Environment.
(c) Negotiations
The President is authorized to direct the United States representative to the Organization of American States to initiate negotiations with the Organization of American States for the establishment of a Consultative Commission on Western Hemisphere Energy and Environment under the auspices of the Organization of American States.
(d) The Commission
In the course of the negotiations, the following shall be pursued:
(1) Objectives
The objectives of the Commission shall be—
(A) to evaluate from the viewpoint of the Western Hemisphere as a whole the energy and environmental situations, trends, and policies of the countries of the participating governments necessary to support sustainable economic development;
(B) to recommend to the participating governments actions, policies, and institutional arrangements that will enhance cooperation and policy coordination among their respective countries in the future development and use of indigenous energy resources and technologies, and in the future development and implementation of measures to protect the environment of the Western Hemisphere; and
(C) to recommend to the participating governments actions and policies that will enhance energy and environmental cooperation and coordination among the countries of the Western Hemisphere and the world.
(2) Composition of Commission
The Commission shall include representatives of—
(A) the respective foreign energy and environmental ministries or departments of the participating governments;
(B) the parliamentary or legislative bodies with legislative responsibilities for energy and environmental matters; and
(C) other governmental and non-governmental observers appointed by the heads of each participating government on the basis of their experience and expertise.
(3) Secretariat
A small secretariat shall be chosen by the participating governments for their expertise in the areas of energy and the environment.
(4) Sunset provision
The Commission's authority—
(A) shall terminate five years from the date of the agreement under which it was created; and
(B) may be extended for a five-year term at the expiration of the previous term by agreement of the participating governments.
(e) Report
The President shall, within one year after October 24, 1992, report to the Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives, and to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate, on the progress toward the establishment of the Commission and achievement of the purposes of this section.

History

(Pub. L. 102–486, title XXX, §3020, Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 3131.)

Editorial Notes

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Change of Name
Committee on Energy and Commerce of House of Representatives treated as referring to Committee on Commerce of House of Representatives by section 1(a) of Pub. L. 104–14, set out as a note preceding section 21 of Title 2, The Congress. Committee on Commerce of House of Representatives changed to Committee on Energy and Commerce of House of Representatives, and jurisdiction over matters relating to securities and exchanges and insurance generally transferred to Committee on Financial Services of House of Representatives by House Resolution No. 5, One Hundred Seventh Congress, Jan. 3, 2001.