WASHINGTON, DC - Energy and Commerce Committee Republican Leader Greg Walden (R-OR) released the following statements on Energy and Commerce provisions included in H.R. 1865, the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act.
Reauthorization of Provisions of the Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act (STELA):
“Congress has finally put an end to an outdated law. Now we will let the marketplace work and require all sides to negotiate their agreements in good faith. We give consumers more transparency on their video bills and allow small cable operators to group together to negotiate with broadcasters. It’s time now to move on to other issues, such as the T-Band and C-Band, a review of how FirstNet is working and how best to connect the rest of America to reliable, high speed broadband," said Walden.
Brand USA Extension Act
“Reauthorizing Brand USA promotes the best of America to foreign visitors to the United States. This effort helps boost local economies, grow jobs, and promote the United States as a premiere travel destination for people around the world, without a dime of taxpayer money," said Walden.
Nuclear Energy
“By boosting research for advanced nuclear technology, we are encouraging the type of innovation that will allow the United States to power the economy of tomorrow and reduce emissions. While nuclear energy is critical to our country’s energy future, we must ensure the resulting waste is kept far from our communities in a safe place, which science and the law tell us is Yucca Mountain. I am pleased that this legislation allows us to continue our work to deliver on a long-overdue promise for the American people to get nuclear waste out of their communities and into Yucca Mountain," said Walden.
Environmental Cleanup
“While we are providing additional resources for states to use for critical environmental cleanup projects and boosting oversight of the federal government’s efforts to address PFAS challenges, Democrats rejected a real opportunity to protect our drinking water from dangerous levels of PFAS chemicals. The refusal of some Democrats to compromise - for a second time in as many weeks - means Congress will not require EPA to set a drinking water standard for any PFAS. It did not have to be this way," said Walden.
H.R. 1865, the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, included the following Energy and Commerce Committee priorities:
Reauthorization of Provisions of the Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act (STELA): The legislation reauthorizes provisions of the Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act Reauthorization (STELAR), which expires on Dec. 31, and addresses the retransmission of over-the-air broadcasters and multichannel video programming distributors (MVPDs).
Brand USA Extension Act: This legislation extends funding for the Corporation for Travel Promotion (aka Brand USA), a national, coordinated marketing organization to promote international travel to the United States, through Fiscal Year (FY) 2027.
Advanced Nuclear Reactor Demonstration Program: This legislation provides $230 million for the Department of Energy’s advanced nuclear reactor demonstration program and $20 million for an industry led program into advanced nuclear reactors.
Environmental Cleanup: Provides $2.8 billion for the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds, including $20 million for state-level PFAS cleanup, and requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to provide a report to Congress on EPA’s efforts to address PFAS cleanup.
