A bill to modify the authority of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to conduct investigations, to increase the criminal penalties for violations of the Federal Power Act and the Natural Gas Act, and to authorize the Chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to contract for consultant services.

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Jul 10, 2002

Amends the Natural Gas Act and the Federal Power Act to: (1) provide that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is not subject to the consent of the Office of Management and Budget or any other Federal agency when it elects to exercise its investigative authority; and (2) increase criminal penalties for violations of these Acts.Amends the Department of Energy Organization Act to authorize the Chairman of FERC to contract for consultant services to assist the Commission in carrying out its responsibilities.States that in contracting for those services the Chairman shall not be subject to any law relating to conflicts of interest.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA] · D–CA

Committees

Energy and Natural Resources Committee

0 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Jul 10, 2002
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Jul 10, 2002
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S6575)
Jul 10, 2002
Introduced in Senate

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in Senate · Jul 10, 2002 Formatted Text PDF

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Sep 8, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

AI Conversation Starters

Explore the bill from different angles

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze S.2716 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.2716, 107th Congress: A bill to modify the authority of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to conduct investigations, to increase the criminal penalties for violations of the Federal Power Act and the Natural Gas Act, and to authorize the Chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to contract for consultant services.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/107th-congress/senate-bill/2716

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2002-07-10.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/107/bills/s2716/BILLS-107s2716is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:11:30Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze S.2716 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine S.2716 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.2716, 107th Congress: A bill to modify the authority of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to conduct investigations, to increase the criminal penalties for violations of the Federal Power Act and the Natural Gas Act, and to authorize the Chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to contract for consultant services.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/107th-congress/senate-bill/2716

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2002-07-10.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/107/bills/s2716/BILLS-107s2716is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:11:30Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.2716 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine S.2716 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.2716, 107th Congress: A bill to modify the authority of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to conduct investigations, to increase the criminal penalties for violations of the Federal Power Act and the Natural Gas Act, and to authorize the Chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to contract for consultant services.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/107th-congress/senate-bill/2716

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2002-07-10.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/107/bills/s2716/BILLS-107s2716is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:11:30Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.2716 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine S.2716 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.2716, 107th Congress: A bill to modify the authority of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to conduct investigations, to increase the criminal penalties for violations of the Federal Power Act and the Natural Gas Act, and to authorize the Chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to contract for consultant services.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/107th-congress/senate-bill/2716

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2002-07-10.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/107/bills/s2716/BILLS-107s2716is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:11:30Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.2716 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.