Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Chair of the House Appropriations Committee, delivered the following remarks at the Committee's markup of the fiscal year 2022 Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies bill:
Thank you, Chairwoman Kaptur and Ranking Member Simpson, for putting forth this vital bill. And I again express my thanks to the subcommittee, full committee, and personal office staff for their devoted work as well.
The coronavirus pandemic exposed many inequities in our country, serving as an important reminder that improving health, safety, and opportunity in communities across the nation requires structural change. This legislation takes bold action to confront the climate crisis and rebuild our water infrastructure while prioritizing good-paying jobs and a clean, affordable, and secure energy future for all - ensuring that no community is left behind.
This Energy and Water Development bill is the result of six hearings that addressed challenges including domestic manufacturing, water resources infrastructure, and energy innovation. Chairwoman Kaptur has duly prioritized improving Americans’ lives in all parts of the nation - including those that have been historically overlooked.
The $45.1 billion allocated to the Department of Energy will help fund new technologies, allowing the United States to develop a diverse clean energy portfolio to achieve a carbon-free economy-fulfilling our responsibility to move to zero-emission energy and leave a resilient environment for future generations.
The bill’s investments in clean energy will also grow careers in emerging fields allowing communities most economically affected by decades of disinvestment and the pandemic to recover. More than $14 billion in funds will strengthen our clean energy infrastructure and scientific research funding.
The bill supports environmental justice goals by improving the energy efficiency of homes in low-income neighborhoods and funds Build Back Better Challenge Grants to incentivize innovative clean energy development solutions that prioritize elevating disenfranchised communities.
With worsening droughts and more destructive storms, the bill’s water investments are vital to building resilient water infrastructure that can withstand these devastating natural disasters. And it provides the Bureau of Reclamation with $1.95 billion to fund WaterSMART programs, rural water projects, and other water resources programs that will address the nation’s diverse water needs.
Now is the time to make lasting investments in strong water infrastructure and a clean energy economy, creating the green jobs of tomorrow. This bill does exactly that.
With that, I want to thank Chairwoman Kaptur and Ranking Member Simpson and their staff for all their efforts. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
Source: U.S. Department of HCA
