The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“NOMINATION OF BERNARD L. McNAMEE” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Energy was published in the Senate section on pages S7336-S7337 on Dec. 6, 2018.
The Department oversees energy policies and is involved in how the US handles nuclear programs. Downsizing the Federal Government, a project aimed at lowering taxes and boosting federal efficiency, said the Department's misguided energy regulations have caused large losses to consumers for decades.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
NOMINATION OF BERNARD L. McNAMEE
Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. President, President Trump has nominated Bernard McNamee to be a member of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, FERC.
FERC is an independent agency that regulates the interstate transmission of electricity, natural gas, and oil. FERC also reviews proposals to build liquefied natural gas, LNG, terminals and interstate natural gas pipelines, as well as licensing hydropower projects.
Historically, FERC has been independent and nonpartisan. I am concerned that, if confirmed, Mr. McNamee would threaten the nonpartisan independence of FERC.
Mr. McNamee has a long-standing history of being an opponent of clean energy and led Texas's efforts to challenge the Obama administration's Clean Power Plan.
In remarks before the Texas Public Policy Foundation, TPPF, and sponsored by Koch Industries in February 2018, Mr. McNamee said fossil fuels are
``key to our way of life,'' but renewable energy ``screws up the whole physics of the grid.'' He also portrayed industry lawsuits with environmental groups as a ``constant battle between liberty and tyranny.''
While at the Department of Energy, Mr. McNamee was a key player in the agency's failed attempt to bail out the coal industry and upend wholesale energy markets.
Furthermore, I am very concerned that Mr. McNamee will take us backwards in the fight to combat climate change. Just recently, the Trump administration tried to bury the release of the Fourth National Climate Assessment report and its alarming statistics on the realities of climate change. The report found that annual average temperatures in the United States are projected to continue to increase in the coming decades and that human health and safety, our quality of life, and the rate of economic growth in communities across the U.S. are increasingly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. In my home State of Maryland, the report found that one of Maryland's crown jewels, the Chesapeake Bay, will experience stronger and more frequent storms, an increase in heavy precipitation events, increasing bay water temperatures, and a rise in sea level.
FERC's independence is critical to its mission, and Mr. McNamee, if confirmed, would be a significant departure from that.
His history as being a supporter of the fossil fuel industry, an opponent of clean energy, and an opponent of progress to combat climate change are alarming. I oppose his nomination to be a member of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, FERC.
Mr. LANKFORD. I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Mr. RISCH. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
Under the previous order, all postcloture time has expired.
The question is, Will the Senate advise and consent to the nomination of Bernard L. McNamee, of Virginia, to be a Member of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for the remainder of the term expiring June 30, 2020?
Mr. RISCH. I ask for the yeas and nays.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sufficient second?
There appears to be a sufficient second.
The clerk will call the roll.
The senior assistant legislative clerk called the roll.
Mr. CORNYN. The following Senator is necessarily absent: the Senator from North Carolina (Mr. Tillis).
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mrs. Fischer). Are there any other Senators in the Chamber desiring to vote.
The result was announced--yeas 50, nays 49, as follows:
YEAS--50
AlexanderBarrassoBluntBoozmanBurrCapitoCassidyCollinsCorkerCornynCottonCrapoCruzDainesEnziErnstFischerFlakeGardnerGrahamGrassleyHatchHellerHoevenHyde-SmithInhofeIsaksonJohnsonKennedyKylLankfordLeeMcConnellMoranMurkowskiPaulPerduePortmanRischRobertsRoundsRubioSasseScottShelbySullivanThuneToomeyWickerYoung
NAYS--49
BaldwinBennetBlumenthalBookerBrownCantwellCardinCarperCaseyCoonsCortez MastoDonnellyDuckworthDurbinFeinsteinGillibrandHarrisHassanHeinrichHeitkampHironoJonesKaineKingKlobucharLeahyManchinMarkeyMcCaskillMenendezMerkleyMurphyMurrayNelsonPetersReedSandersSchatzSchumerShaheenSmithStabenowTesterUdallVan HollenWarnerWarrenWhitehouseWyden
NOT VOTING--1
Tillis
The nomination was confirmed.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The majority leader.
____________________
