House · HR 3015 · 119th Congress
National Coal Council Reestablishment Act
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Summary
This bill brings back the National Coal Council inside the Department of Energy. The council gives advice to the Energy Secretary on coal and the coal industry. It also removes the rule that required the council to renew its approval every two years.
In Favor
Renewing the council's charter every two years creates needless paperwork and can cut off ongoing advisory work mid-cycle. This bill removes that disruption so the council can focus on long-term planning for coal communities and energy supply. Stable, uninterrupted advice helps the Energy Secretary make better decisions on coal technology and workforce issues.
Against
The Department of Energy already restarted this council before this bill passed. The bill also carves out a special exemption for this one council from a rule that applies to all other advisory groups. No clear reason exists to give the coal council treatment that other advisory bodies do not get.
Additional Considerations
Purpose & Problem
Is the problem real and worth federal action?
This bill directs the Department of Energy to bring back the National Coal Council, a group that gives advice to the Secretary of Energy on coal and the coal industry, which had not been active.
Scope & Related Provisions
Does it stay focused, or carry unrelated add-ons?
The bill stays focused on reestablishing the council, but it also removes the normal rule that advisory councils must renew their approval every two years, which applies to all other federal advisory groups.
Who Is Affected
Who benefits, and who bears the cost?
The Department of Energy takes on new duties to operate the council. People and organizations with interests in the coal industry would have a formal channel to offer advice to the Secretary of Energy.
Cost & Funding
Is it affordable and responsibly funded?
The bill does not authorize or appropriate a specific dollar amount. It shifts operational duties onto the Department of Energy to run and staff the council under existing federal advisory committee rules.
Risks & Implementation
What could go wrong in practice?
The council was already reestablished by the Department of Energy in June 2025, before the bill passed. The bill also exempts the council from the standard two-year renewal process that applies to other advisory groups.
For the actual bill text, see congress.gov.
AI-generated · Published 6/5/2026