---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 17281"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "17281"
heading: "National media campaign"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/17281"
units:
  - "Chapter 152 — Energy Independence and Security"
  - "Subchapter VII — Improved Management of Energy Policy"
  - "Part A — Management Improvements"
---

# §17281. National media campaign

- (a) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/17001.md?p=3), acting through the Assistant [Secretary](/usc/42/17001.md?p=3) for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (referred to in this section as the “[Secretary](/usc/42/17001.md?p=3)”), shall develop and conduct a national media campaign—
  - (1) to increase energy efficiency throughout the economy of the United States during the 10-year period beginning on December 19, 2007;
  - (2) to promote the national security benefits associated with increased energy efficiency; and
  - (3) to decrease oil consumption in the United States during the 10-year period beginning on December 19, 2007.
- (b) **Contract with entity—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/17001.md?p=3) shall carry out [subsection (a)](#a) directly or through—
  - (1) competitively bid contracts with 1 or more nationally recognized media firms for the development and distribution of monthly television, radio, and newspaper public service announcements; or
  - (2) collective agreements with 1 or more nationally recognized institutes, businesses, or [nonprofit](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=3) organizations for the funding, development, and distribution of monthly television, radio, and newspaper public service announcements.
- (c) **Use of funds—**
  - (1) **In general—** Amounts made available to carry out this section shall be used for—
    - (A) advertising costs, including—
      - (i) the purchase of media time and space;
      - (ii) creative and talent costs;
      - (iii) testing and evaluation of advertising; and
      - (iv) evaluation of the effectiveness of the media campaign; and
    - (B) administrative costs, including operational and management expenses.
  - (2) **Limitations—** In carrying out this section, the [Secretary](/usc/42/17001.md?p=3) shall allocate not less than 85 percent of funds made available under [subsection (e)](#e) for each fiscal year for the advertising functions specified under [paragraph (1)(A)](#c-1-A).
- (d) **Reports—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/17001.md?p=3) shall annually submit to Congress a report that describes—
  - (1) the strategy of the national media campaign and whether specific objectives of the campaign were accomplished, including—
    - (A) determinations concerning the rate of change of energy consumption, in both absolute and per capita terms; and
    - (B) an evaluation that enables consideration of whether the media campaign contributed to reduction of energy consumption;
  - (2) steps taken to ensure that the national media campaign operates in an effective and efficient manner consistent with the overall strategy and focus of the campaign;
  - (3) plans to purchase advertising time and space;
  - (4) policies and [practices](/usc/42/17061.md?p=19) implemented to ensure that Federal funds are used responsibly to purchase advertising time and space and eliminate the potential for waste, fraud, and abuse; and
  - (5) all contracts or cooperative agreements entered into with a [corporation](/usc/42/2297h.md?p=2), partnership, or individual working on behalf of the national media campaign.
- (e) **Authorization of appropriations—**
  - (1) **In general—** There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2012.
  - (2) **Decreased oil consumption—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/17001.md?p=3) shall use not less than 50 percent of the amount that is made available under this section for each fiscal year to develop and conduct a national media campaign to decrease oil consumption in the United States over the next decade.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 110–140, title VIII, § 801, Dec. 19, 2007, 121 Stat. 1716.)

## Notes

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective on the date that is 1 day after Dec. 19, 2007, see section 1601 of Pub. L. 110–140, set out as a note under section 1824 of Title 2, The Congress.