Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee Chairwoman Marcy Kaptur (D-OH-09) delivered the following remarks on the House Floor in support of, a minibus of six fiscal year 2023 appropriations bills:
Thank you, Chair DeLauro, for your leadership of this Committee in service to the American people. Thank you also to Ranking Member Granger, as well as the dedicated staff who worked on this important legislation.
The 2023 Energy and Water bill takes a significant step forward to secure American energy independence, to rebuild critical infrastructure, to foster scientific innovation, and to sustain life on our corner of Mother Earth.
Putin’s war against Ukraine crystalizes how essential having a comprehensive energy independence strategy is to our economy and security. America needs to innovate further - and not allow foreign adversaries to disrupt our way of life. America has been making great progress on the front of energy independence since the Department of Energy was established in 1977.
Oil production has doubled since 2010 and natural gas production is about 60 percent higher than 2010. But we are not at home plate, we are rounding second base, and we are running hard toward third base on our way home.
It is clear we need an all-of-the-above energy strategy that taps domestic oil and gas but also moves forward on clean energy to diversify our energy portfolio.
Our bill invests over $56 billion for America’s energy and water priorities, while supporting good-paying jobs across the country. Let me walk through key investments in this bill:
* $48.2 billion for the Department of Energy, $3.3 billion above enacted. Within the Department of Energy:
** Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy receives record funding of $4 billion, $800 million above enacted.
** That includes a new Office of State and Community Energy Programs that receives $562 million to increase energy affordability and transform the energy economy by working with state, local, and community-level partners.
** ARPA-E receives $550 million, $100 million above enacted, to literally invent our energy future.
** The Office of Science receives $8 billion, $525 million above enacted, which is so vital to America’s energy innovation and research into the physical sciences.
** The new Defense Production Act Domestic Clean Energy Accelerator receives $100 million to expand domestic manufacturing and help America lead in solar and other clean energy industries.
** And we responsibly fund our nuclear deterrent while increasing funding for nonproliferation programs.
* The bill provides nearly $11 billion, $2.8 billion above the budget request, to rebuild our water infrastructure and respond to the severe western drought. These investments in the Army Corps of Engineers and Bureau of Reclamation are critical to protecting communities in every district in our nation.
* And our bill increases funding for regional commissions, which promote economic development in economically challenged regions and distressed counties across our country.
This bill will strengthen the foundational components that underpin every aspect of our nation, and it represents a strategic investment in America’s future.
I’d like to thank the staff who worked tirelessly to put this bill together: Scott McKee, Brian Smith, Will Ostertag, Daniela Todesco, Eric Lipka, John Howes, and Angie Giancarlo.
Thank you. I yield back.
Source: U.S. Department of HCA
