Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
TAKE THE CHAIR.
THE HOUSE IS IN THE
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE HOUSE ON
THE STATE OF THE UNION FOR
FURTHER CONSIDERATION OF H.R.
REPORT BY TITLE.
A BILL MAKING
APPROPRIATIONS FOR ENERGY AND
WATER DEVELOPMENT AND RELATED
AGENCIES FOR THE FISCAL YEAR
ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2012, AND
FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
WHEN THE COMMITTEE
OF THE WHOLE ROSE EARLIER
TODAY, THE BILL HAD BEEN READ
THROUGH PAGE 23, LINE 10.
PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 6 OF RULE
18, PROCEEDINGS WILL NOW RESUME
ON THOSE AMENDMENTS PRINTED IN
THE CONGRESSIONAL RECORD ON
WHICH FURTHER DISCUSSIONS WERE
POSTPONED.
AN AMENDMENT -- THE CHAIR WILL
REDUCE TO TWOIN MISS THE TIME
FOR ANY ELECTRONIC VOTE AFTER
THE FIRST VOTE IN THIS SERIES.
THE UNFINISHED BUSINESS IS THE
REQUEST FOR A RECORDED VOTE ON
AN AMENDMENT OFFERED BY THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MASSACHUSETTS,
MR. TIERNEY, ON WHICH FURTHER
PROCEEDINGS WERE POSTPONED AND
ON WHICH THE NOES PREVAILED BY
VOICE VOTE.
THE CLERK WILL REDESIGNATE THE
AMENDMENT.
AMENDMENT OFFERED BY
MR. TIERNEY OF MASSACHUSETTS.
A RECORDED VOTE HAS
BEEN REQUESTED.
THOSE IN SUPPORT OF THE REQUEST
FOR A RECORDED VOTE WILL RISE
AND BE COUNTED.
A SUFFICIENT NUMBER HAVING
RISEN, A RECORDED VOTE IS
ORDERED.
MEMBERS WILL RECORD THEIR VOTES
BY ELECTRONIC DEVICE.
THIS IS A 15-MINUTE VOTE.
[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY
THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING
INSTITUTE, INC., IN COOPERATION
WITH THE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES.
ANY USE OF THE CLOSED-CAPTIONED
COVERAGE OF THE HOUSE
PROCEEDINGS FOR POLITICAL OR
COMMERCIAL PURPOSES IS
EXPRESSLY PROHIBITED BY THE
REPRESENTATIVES.]
ON THIS VOTE, THE
YEAS ARE 162, THE NAYS ARE 246.
THE AMENDMENT IS NOT ADOPTED.
THE UNFINISHED BUSINESS IS THE
REQUEST FOR A RECORDED VOTE ON
AN AMENDMENT OFFERED BY THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MISSOURI, MR.
GAFSE.
THE CLERK WILL REDESIGNATE THE
AMENDMENT.
AMENDMENT OFFERED BY
MR. GRAVES OF MISSOURI.
A RECORDED VOTE HAS
BEEN REQUESTED.
THOSE IN SUPPORT OF A RECORDED
VOTE WILL RISE AND BE COUNTED.
A SUFFICIENT NUMBER HAVING
ARISEN, A RECORDED VOTE IS
ORDERED.
MEMBERS WILL RECORD THEIR VOTES
BY ELECTRONIC DEVICE. THIS IS A
TWO-MINUTE VOTE.
[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY THE
UNITED STATES HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES. VOTE VOTE --
[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY THE
UNITED STATES HOUSE OF
ANY USE OF THE CLOSED-CAPTIONED
COVERAGE OF THE HOUSE
PROCEEDINGS FOR POLITICAL OR
REPRESENTATIVES.]
ON
THIS VOTE, THE YEAS ARE 216,
THE NAYS ARE 190.
THE AMENDMENT IS ADOPTED.
ON THIS VOTE, THE
YEAS ARE 216, THE NAYS ARE
190678 THE AMENDMENT IS
ADOPTED.
THE QUESTION IS ON THE
AMENDMENT OFFERED BY THE
GENTLEMAN FROM LOUISIANA, MR.
SCALISE.
THE CLERK WILL REDESIGNATE THE
AMENDMENT.
AMENDMENT OFFERED BY
MR. SCALISE OF LOUISIANA.
BEEN REQUESTED.
THOSE IN SUPPORT OF THE REQUEST
FOR A RECORDED VOTE WILL RISE
AND BE DOWNED.
RISEN, A RECORDED VOTE IS
ORDERED.
MEMBERS WILL RECORD THEIR VOTES
BY ELECTRONIC DEVICE.
THIS IS A TWO-MINUTE VOTE.
[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY
THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING
INSTITUTE, INC., IN COOPERATION
WITH THE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES.
ANY USE OF THE CLOSED-CAPTIONED
COVERAGE OF THE HOUSE
PROCEEDINGS FOR POLITICAL OR
COMMERCIAL PURPOSES IS
EXPRESSLY PROHIBITED BY THE
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.]
ON THIS VOTE, THE
YEAS ARE 241 THE NAYS ARE 168.
THE AMENDMENT IS ADOPTED.
THE UNFINISHED BUSINESS IS THE
REQUEST FOR A RECORDED VOTE ON
AN AMENDMENT OFFERED BY THE
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA, MR.
WOODALL, ON WHICH THE NOES
PREVAILED BY VOICE VOTE.
THE CLERK WILL REDESIGNATE THE
AMENDMENT.
AMENDMENT OFFERED BY
MR. GOOD AWL OF GEORGIA.
A RECORDED VOTE HAS
BEEN REQUESTED.
THOSE IN SUPPORT OF THE REQUEST
FOR A RECORDED VOTE WILL RISE
AND BE COUNTED.
A SUFFICIENT NUMBER HAVING
RISEN, A RECORDED VOTE IS
ORDERED.
MEMBERS WILL RECORD THEIR VOTES
BY ELECTRONIC DEVICE THIS IS A
TWO-MINUTE VOTE.
[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY
THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING
INSTITUTE, INC., IN COOPERATION
WITH THE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES.
ANY USE OF THE CLOSED-CAPTIONED
COVERAGE OF THE HOUSE
PROCEEDINGS FOR POLITICAL OR
COMMERCIAL PURPOSES IS
EXPRESSLY PROHIBITED BY THE
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.]
ON THIS VOTE, THE
YEAS ARE 218, THE NAYS ARE 191.
THE AMENDMENT IS ADOPTED.
THE UNFINISHED BUSINESS IS THE
REQUEST FOR A RECORDED VOTE ON
AMENDMENT OFFERED BY THE
WHICH FURTHER PROCEED WRGS
POSTPONED AND ON WHICH THE NOES
PREVAILED BY VOICE VOTE.
THE CLERK WILL REDESIGNATE THE
AMENDMENT.
AMENDMENT OFFERED BY
MR. MCCLINTOCK OF CALIFORNIA.
THOSE IN SUPPORT OF
THE REQUEST FOR A RECORDED VOTE
WILL RISE AND BE COUNTED.
A SUFFICIENT NUMBER HAVING
RISEN, A RECORDED VOTE IS
ORDERED.
MEMBERS WILL RECORD THEIR VOTES
THIS IS A TWO-MINUTE VOTE.
[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY
INSTITUTE, INC., IN COOPERATION
WITH THE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES.
ANY USE OF THE CLOSED-CAPTIONED
COVERAGE OF THE HOUSE
PROCEEDINGS FOR POLITICAL OR
EXPRESSLY PROHIBITED BY THE
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.]
ON THIS VOTE, THE
YEAS ARE 96, THE NAYS ARE 313,
ADOPTED.
THE HOUSE WILL BE IN
ORDER.
GENTLEMAN FROM COLORADO RISE?
MR. CHAIRMAN, I HAVE AN
AMENDMENT AT THE DESK AND THE
HOUSE IS NOT IN ORDER.
THE COMMITTEE WILL BE
IN ORDER.
THE COMMITTEE WILL BE IN ORDER.
THE COMMITTEE WILL BE IN ORDER.
THE CLERK WILL DESIGNATE THE
AMENDMENT.
AMENDMENT NUMBER 5
PRINTED IN THE CONGRESSIONAL
RECORD OFFERED BY MR. LAMBORN OF
COLORADO.
THE COMMITTEE WILL BE
IN ORDER.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM COLORADO IS
RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIRMAN.
MY CONSTITUENTS IN COLORADO,
LIKE ALL AMERICANS --
MR. CHAIRMAN, THE HOUSE IS
NOT IN ORDER.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
CORRECT.
THE GENTLEMAN WILL SUSPEND.
THE COMMITTEE WILL BE IN ORDER.
THE GENTLEMAN DESERVES TO BE
THE GENTLEMAN MAY CONTINUE.
THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIRMAN.
NEW JERSEY.
MY CONSTITUENTS IN COLORADO,
LIKE ALL AMERICANS, ARE
DEMANDING THAT CONGRESS CUT
SPENDING.
WE MUST LOOK FOR EVERY
OPPORTUNITY, LARGE AND SMALL, TO
CUT WASTEFUL GOVERNMENT
PROGRAMS.
THIS AMENDMENT DOES JUST THAT.
THE WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS CASH
FOR CAULKERS, AND PART OF THE
FAILED STIMULUS PACKAGE, HAS
BEEN PLAGUED BY BUREAUCRATIC
MISMANAGEMENT.
THIS PROGRAM WAS SUPPOSED TO
CREATE JOBS BUT WE ALL KNEE
DIDN'T WORK OUT SO WELL.
-- WE ALL KNOW THAT DIDN'T WORK
OUT SO WELL.
TICKING UP TWO MONTHS IN A ROW,
WE MUST REVERSE COURSE AND CUT
ALL UNSPENT STIMULUS DOLLARS.
IN THE STIMULUS $5 BILLION WAS
INJECTED INTO CASH FOR CAULKERS
THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
IN AN ATTEMPT TO HELP LOWER THE
COST OF ENERGY AND TO INCREASE
SUFFICIENTLY -- EFFICIENCY FOR
PEOPLE WHO QUALIFIED.
THE GOAL WAS TO MAKE 5 3,000
HOMES MORE -- 593,000 HOMES MORE
ENERGY EFFICIENT.
THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN MARKED BY
MISMANAGEMENT, FRAUD, WASTE AND
ABUSE.
MOST NOTABLY IT'S A CASE OF
$WHERE FEDERAL AUDITORS FOUND
MISMANAGEMENT ISSUES AND
POTENTIAL FRAUDULENT ACTIVITIES.
REPORTEDLY SUBSEQUENT REPAIRS
AND OTHER INSPECTIONS WILL COST
THE STATE A SIZABLE AMOUNT OF
THEIR REMAINING FUNDS.
STATES AS WELL.
WHEN LARGE SUMS OF MONEY ARE
SPENT TOO QUICKLY THE
OPPORTUNITIES FOR WASTE AND
ABUSE ARE RAMPANT.
THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION IN ITS
HASTE TO CREATE GOVERNMENT JOBS
FAILED TO THOUGHTFULLY AND
PRUDENTLY ASSESS HOW MONEY WAS
SPENT.
IN THESE TOUGH FISCAL TIMES WE
MUST HAVE ACCOUNTABILITY FOR
EVERY DOLLAR SPENT BY THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
STATES HAVE UNTIL MARCH OF 2012
TO USE CASH FOR CAULKERS FUNDS
THE TREASURY.
I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS COULD
LEAVE A LARGE SLUSH FUND OF $1.5
BILLION IN THE HANDLES OF
FEDERAL BUREAUCRATS THEM.
COULD SPEND THAT MONEY WITH VERY
LITTLE -- BUREAUCRATS.
THEY COULD SPEND THAT MONEY WITH
VERY LITTLE CONGRESSIONAL
OVERSIGHT.
MY AMENDMENT WILL PREVENT THE
SECRETARY OF ENERGY FOR
REALLOCATING FUNDING REMAINING
TO FUNDS REMAINING FROM ONE
STATE TO ANOTHER.
THIS WILL LEAVE UP TO $1.5
BILLION THAT CAN BE RETURNED TO
THE TREASURY NEXT MARCH, THUS
REDUCING OUR MASSIVE DEFICIT.
I URGE SUPPORT FOR THIS
AMENDMENT AND, MR. CHAIRMAN, I
RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.
REFRESH HIS TIME.
DOES THE GENTLEMAN YIELD BACK?
DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM COLORADO
YIELD BACK?
I YIELD BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA
RISE?
TO STRIKE THE LAST WORD.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.
MR. CHAIRMAN, THIS AMENDMENT
STRIKES LANGUAGE IN THE BILL
THAT ALLOWS THE SECRETARY OF
ENERGY TO REDIRECT UNSPENT
STIMULUS FUNDS FROM ONE STATE TO
ANOTHER.
WHAT THEY'RE REALLY SAYING IS
THIS, $1.5 BILLION IS GOING TO
BE TAKEN FROM THE STATES THAT
DECIDED NOT TO USE THE MONEY,
GIVEN THE -- GIVE THE STATES
THAT HAVE NOT ONLY SPENT THEIR
ALLOCATIONS BUT WANT TO SPEND
MORE.
IF ASOP WAS WRITING THIS TAIL,
IT WOULD INCLUDE AN ANT AND
GRASSHOPPER.
THE PRINCIPLE STINKS AND SO DOES
THESE FUNDS ARE TO FINANCE
WEATHERIZATION AND BUILDING HE
DESIGN PROGRAMS.
BUT THE POTENTIAL SAVINGS, IF
ANYWHERE NEAR AS GREAT AS THE
ADMINISTRATION CLAIMS, SHOULD BE
MORE THAN ENOUGH MOTIVATION FOR
INDIVIDUALS TO PURSUE THIS
ACTIVITY ON THEIR OWN WITHOUT A
GOVERNMENT GIVEAWAY.
AFTER ALL, WHY SHOULD TAXPAYERS
PAY TO DEVELOP AND SUBSIDIZE
BUILDING MATERIALS AND
TECHNOLOGIES TO BE SOLD IN THE
PRIVATE SECTOR TO PRIVATE
CONSUMERS?
IN ALL MATTERS OF ENERGY AND
ENERGY CONSERVATION, WE'VE GOT
TO GET BACK TO A SIMPLE DOCTRINE
THAT THE BENEFICIARY SHOULD PAY.
IF A PRODUCT SAVES CONSUMERS
MONEY, IN THIS CASE THROUGH
ENERGY SAVINGS, THAT'S A BENEFIT
AND IT IS INCORPORATED INTO THE
PRICE STRUCTURE OF THAT PRODUCT.
THIS ELEGANT AND SIMPLE PROCESS
ALLOWS CONSUMERS TO DECIDE FOR
THEMSELVES IF THE ADDED ENERGY
SAVINGS ARE WORTH THE ADDED
FINANCIAL COST.
IF THE ANSWER IS YES, THE WORLD
WILL BE THE PATH TO THE DOOR OF
THOSE WHO MANUFACTURE AND SELL
THOSE PRODUCTS AND IF THE ANSWER
IS NO TAXPAYERS SHOULDN'T BE
SUBSIDIZING IT.
I YIELD BACK.
BACK.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW JERSEY RISE?
MR. CHAIRMAN,
I MOVE TO STRIKE THE LAST WORD.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.
I RISE TO
OPPOSE THE AMENDMENT.
THE WEATHERIZATION PROGRAM WAS
PROVIDED $5 BILLION BY THE
STIMULUS BILL IN 2009 BUT THE
PROGRAM HAS BEEN SLOW TO ACT AND
APPROXIMATELY $1.4 BILLION WILL
BE UNSPENT AND AVAILABLE FOR USE
IN THE FISCAL YEAR 2012.
SOME STATES HAVE SPENT ALL OF
THEIR STIMULUS MONEY WHILE
OTHERS WILL HAVE PLENTY LEFT FOR
FISCAL YEAR 2012 -- PLENTY LEFT
FOR FISCAL YEAR 2012.
BUT THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY BY
LAW MUST SPREAD ANY NEW FUNDING
EVENLY ACROSS ALL STATES.
THE BILL CUTS THIS PROGRAM BY
$141 MILLION BELOW THE
PRESIDENT'S REQUEST.
THE LANGUAGE IN THE UNDERLYING
BILL GIVES THE SECRETARY OF
ENERGY THE FLEXIBILITY TO USE
LIMITED APPROPRIATIONS PROVIDED
IN FISCAL YEAR 2012 TO
SUPPLEMENT STATES THAT HAVE NO
STIMULUS FUNDING.
THE BILL DOES NOT ALLOW, I'D
LIKE TO ADD THAT EMPHASIS, THE
BILL DOES NOT ALLOW THE
SECRETARY TO REALLOCATE STIMULUS
FUNDS.
ALL IT DOES IS TO ALLOW THE
SECRETARY SOME FLEXIBILITY IN
WHERE HE ALLOCATES IT.
THERE'S $33 MILLION LEFT IN THE
BILL.
LET ME SAY, WE CAN'T AFFORD IN
THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY WITH
THIS PROGRAM OR ANY OTHER
PROGRAM TO HAVE BUSINESS AS
USUALLY IN TERMS OF
WITH THE GENTLEMAN FROM COLORADO
THAT IN MANY CASES THE MONEY
HASN'T BEEN SPENT, AND IN SOME
CASES THERE HAVE BEEN QUESTIONS
AS TO HOW WELL IT'S BEEN SPENT.
THIS WAIVER IN OUR BILL PROVIDES
A SOLUTION ALLOWING ALL STATES
TO CONTINUE THIS PROGRAM UNDER A
DIRECT OVERSIGHT OF OUR
COMMITTEE.
THE AMENDMENT THAT IS SUGGESTED
BY THE GENTLEMAN FROM COLORADO
WOULD UNDO THE SOLUTION BY
STRIKING LANGUAGE PROVIDING THIS
FLEXIBILITY, CAUSING JOB LOSSES
AND PROGRAM STOPPAGES IN MANY
STATES WHERE IN FACT IN THOSE
STATES THESE FUNDS ARE
OBLIGATED.
SO THEREFORE I OPPOSE THE
AMENDMENT AND URGE OTHER MEMBERS
TO DO SO AS WELL AND YIELD BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS
BACK THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM INDIANA RISE?
I WOULD MOVE TO STRIKE THE
TO THE AMENDMENT AS WELL.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.
I WOULD POINT OUT
TO MY COLLEAGUES THAT WHILE THE
PENDING LEGISLATION IS $141
MILLION BELOW FISCAL YEAR 2011
LEVELS, THE FACT IS WE DO HAVE
APPROXIMATELY $1.5 BILLION THAT
ESSENTIALLY HAS BEEN FORWARDED
TO THE STATES AND THE CHAIRMAN
JUST MENTIONED THE ISSUE OF JOBS
THOSE MONEYS ARE AVAILABLE AS
THEY ARE ALLOCATED AND
DISTRIBUTED FOR WEATHERIZATION
PROGRAMS TO PUT PEOPLE TO WORK.
WE HAVE HAD COMPLAINTS IN THIS
CHAMBER OVER THE LAST WEEK ABOUT
THE LAST UNEMPLOYMENT REPORT,
THESE MONEYS HAVE ALREADY BEEN
BUDGETED, THESE MONEYS HAVE BEEN
OBLIGATED TO THE STATES AND
THESE MONEYS CAN PUT PEOPLE TO
WORK DOING USEFUL THINGS SUCH AS
HELPING THOSE WHO NEED TO
WEATHERIZE THEIR HOUSE, REDUCE
THEIR UTILITY BILLS SO THAT THEY
CAN HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO BUY
GASOLINE AND PUT IT IN THEIR
CARS, AS WELL AS TO BEGIN TO
REDUCE THE USE OF ENERGY IN THIS
COUNTRY.
THESE ARE VERY NECESSARY MONEYS
TO CREATE JOBS, TO HELP THOSE IN
NEED AND TO REDUCE OUR ENERGY
DEPENDENCE AND I STRONGLY OPPOSE
THE GENTLEMAN'S AMENDMENT AND I
WOULD YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF
MY TIME.
BACK THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
THE QUESTION IS ON THE AMENDMENT
OFFERED BY THE GENTLEMAN FROM
COLORADO.
THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR, THE
NOES HAVE IT.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM COLORADO.
I ASK FOR THE YEAS
AND NAYS.
A RECORDED VOTE.
THE GENTLEMAN ASKS
FOR A RECORDED VOTE.
FURTHER PROCEEDINGS ON THE
AMENDMENT OFFERED BY THE
GENTLEMAN FROM COLORADO WILL BE
POSTPONED.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA RISE?
MR. CHAIRMAN, I HAVE AN
AMENDMENT AT THE DESK AND ASK
FOR ITS CONSIDERATION.
THE CLERK WILL REPORT
THE AMENDMENT.
AMENDMENT OFFERED BY
MR. CONNOLLY OF VIRGINIA, PAGES
23, LINE 4, AFTER THE DOLLAR
AMOUNT INSERT, INCREASE BY $46
MILLION.
PAGE 24, LINE 18, AFTER THE
DOLLAR AMOUNT INSERT, REDUCE BY
$99 MILLION.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.
I THANK THE CHAIR.
MR. CHAIRMAN, THE FISCAL 2012
ENERGY AND WATER APPROPRIATIONS
ACT IS AN ASSAULT ON ANY
RATIONAL OR SCIENTIFIC BASIS FOR
PUBLIC POLICY.
IT WOULD DECIMATE AMERICAN
MANUFACTURING, IMPOVERISH
AMERICAN CONSUMERS AND ALLOW
POLLUTERS TO SULLY OUR WATER
WITH UNPEOPLITY -- IMPUNITY.
AT A TIME WHEN THE AMERICAN
COUNTRY IS STUCK IN NEUTRAL,
WHILE OTHER COUNTRIES ARE
PRODUCING VEHICLES THIS BILL
WOULD TAKE AMERICA BACK TO THE
19TH CENTURY STANDARD OF
INDUSTRIALIZATION WITHOUT PUBLIC
OVERSIGHT OR REGULATION.
MR. PETERS OF MICHIGAN AND I
HAVE DRAFTED A SIMPLE AMENDMENT
TO FIX ONE AMONG MANY PROBLEMS
IN THIS BILL.
MR. PETERS HAS BEEN A LEADER OF
EFFORTS TO RESTORE OUR AUTO
INDUSTRY AND I APPRECIATE HIS
CO-SPONSORSHIP OF THIS
AMENDMENT.
IT WOULD SIMPLY RESTORE SOME OF
THE FUNDING CUTS FROM THE
VEHICLE'S TECHNOLOGIES PROGRAM
WITH A FUNDING OFFSET PROVIDED
BY ELIMINATING AN INCREASE IN
FUEL INDUSTRY.
THIS AMENDMENT WOULD MAINTAIN
THE SAME LEVEL OF FUNDING AS
PROVIDED IN THIS FISCAL YEAR'S
ENERGY AND WATER APPROPRIATION
BILL.
THE VEHICLE AND TECHNOLOGIES
PROGRAM IS A CRITICAL PART OF
OUR EFFORT TO REVIVE AMERICAN
MANUFACTURING IN THE AUTOMOBILE
INDUSTRY.
IT'S A JOB GENERATOR.
FIVE YEARS AGO OUR AUTO INDUSTRY
WAS ON ITS DEATH BED.
WITH TWO MAJOR MANUFACTURERS
FACING BANKRUPTCY.
FORTUNATELY PRESIDENT OBAMA
INTERVENED AND PROVIDED
TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE BOTH TO
GENERAL MOTORS AND CHRYSLER,
MOST OF WHICH HAS ALREADY BEEN
REPAID.
TODAY THOSE MANUFACTURERS ARE
GROWING AGAIN WITH POSITIVE
DOMESTIC ECONOMIC BENEFITS FOR
AUTO DEALERS AND PART SUPPLIERS
ALL ACROSS AMERICA.
UNFORTUNATELY THIS ENERGY AND
WATER APPROPRIATIONS BILL WOULD
REVERSE THIS PROGRESS BY GUTTING
IMPORTANT VEHICLE RESEARCH
FUNDING.
THE VEHICLE TECHNOLOGIES PROGRAM
IS A SUCCESS STORY IN BOOSTING
DOMESTIC MANUFACTURING OF
CLEANER CARS THAT SAVE CONSUMERS
MONEY AT THE PUMP.
IT IS REDUCING THE COST OF
ADVANCED LITHIUM EYE ON
BATTERIES WHICH ARE -- ION
BATTERIES WHICH ARE IN ALL
HYBRID VEHICLES ON THE ROAD IN
AMERICA.
THIS PROGRAM HAS HELPED TO
DEPLOY 48 MANUFACTURING PROJECTS
ALL ACROSS THE UNITED STATES
WITH A GOAL OF REDUCING HYBRID
VEHICLE ENERGY COSTS BY 35%.
THEY ARE AN IMPORTANT PART OF
OURL DOMESTIC MANUFACTURING BASE
LIFE BENEFITS TO SUBURBAN
REGIONS WITH HIGH LEVELS OF SMOG
POLLUTION SUCH AS HERE IN THE
NATION'S CAPITAL.
THE ADVANCED VEHICLE
TECHNOLOGIES PROGRAM ALSO WAS
HELPING TO DEPLOY ELECTRIC VEEM
VEHICLES INCLUDING THE NEW CHEVY
VOLT.
FINALLY, MR. CHAIRMAN, THIS
PROGRAM HAS ACCELERATED
DEPLOYMENT OF DIESEL BUSES
IMPROVING TRANSIT SERVICE AND
AIR QUALITY IN COMMUNITIES
THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY LIKE MY
OWN IN FAIRFAX COUNTY, VIRGINIA.
WE CANNOT ALLOW A HEMORRHAGING
OF TECHNOLOGY AND MANUFACTURING
JOBS TO FOREIGN COMPETITION
WHILE UNEMPLOYMENT GROWS IN
AMERICA.
THE REPUBLICANS SEEM TO BELIEVE
THAT CORPORATE WELFARE FOR OIL
COMPANIES WILL HELP THE ECONOMY
BUT WE TRIED THAT DURING THE
PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION AND IT
DID NOT WORK.
WE NEED TO REFOCUS ON BUILDING
THE TECHNOLOGIES OF THE FUTURE
RIGHT HERE IN AMERICA AND THE
VEHICLE AND TECHNOLOGIES PROGRAM
IS A PART OF THAT EFFORT.
I ASK FOR FAVORABLE
CONSIDERATION OF THIS AMENDMENT
AND I YIELD BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS
BACK.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW JERSEY RISE?
MR. CHAIRMAN, I RISE TO
OPPOSE THE AMENDMENT.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S AMENDMENT WOULD
INCREASE FUNDING FOR THE ENERGY
EFFICIENCY AND RENEWABLE ENERGY
AND REDUCE FUNDING FOR FOSSIL
FUEL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT,
THIS WOULD INCREASE -- RESULT
IN AN INCREASE IN A PROGRAM
THAT ALREADY RECEIVES
SUFFICIENT FUNDS AND HAMPER
THOSE THAT PRODUCE MOST OF OUR
ELECTRICITY.
LET'S BE FRANK, FOSSIL FUELS
SUCH AS COAL AND NATURAL GAS
GENERATE 70% OF OUR ELECTRICITY
AND WE'LL USE THESE SOURCES FOR
MANY GENERATIONS.
WE MUST MAKE SURE WE USE THOSE
RESOURCES AS EFFICIENTLY AND
CLEANLY AS POSSIBLE.
FURTHER, THE AMENDMENT
INCREASES FUNDING FOR RENEWABLE
ENERGY, A PROGRAM THAT'S SEEN
RECORD INCREASES SINCE 2007 AND
STILL HAS NEARLY $9 BILLION OF
UNSPENT STIMULUS FUNDS FROM
2009.
THERE IS A PROPER ROLE FOR THE
CORE ENERGY AND EFFICIENCY
RETHUBLE PROGRAM AND THE BILL
PRESERVES FUNDING FOR THOSE
ACTIVITIES WHILE CUTTING OUT
ACTIVITIES WHICH ARE REDUNDANT
WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR OR
INTERVENE IMPROPERLY IN MARKET
MOTIVATION.
BUT THE MARKET WOULD ALSO BACK
-- WOULD ALSO ADD BACK
UNNECESSARY FUNDING FOR
ADMINISTRATION PROPOSALS THAT
ARE POORLY PLANNED AND LACK
JUSTIFICATION.
THAT IN AND OF ITSELF IS BAD
ENOUGH.
I OPPOSE THE AMENDMENT AND URGE
OTHERS TO DO SO AS WELL AND
YIELD BACK.
BACK.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MICHIGAN RISE?
WORD.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.