Congressman Brett Guthrie, Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, delivered an opening statement on Apr. 20 at a House Rules Committee hearing regarding H.R. 4690, the Reliable Federal Infrastructure Act, and House Resolution 1182 in support of rural communities.
The discussion focused on legislative efforts to address federal energy policy and highlight support for rural areas. The Energy and Commerce Committee oversees legislation related to energy, health care, environmental protection, telecommunications, and consumer issues according to the official website.
Guthrie said he supports H.R. 4690 because it would repeal a ban on fossil fuels for new or renovated federal buildings. He stated that current law requires the Department of Energy to phase out fossil fuels in these buildings by 2030 but argued that renewable energy sources have not always met demand during critical times. "Unfortunately, renewable energy cannot be expected to perform. Take this past January during Winter Storm Fern, when coal and natural gas significantly increased their output to meet demand while, in New England, burning trash contributed more energy than wind and solar combined," Guthrie said.
He clarified that the proposed bill does not prohibit using renewable energy but aims to reverse what he described as a mandate eliminating energy choice. "If an energy source can contribute to the electricity mix without a parallel, reliable backup like natural gas, then there’s nothing prohibiting its consideration. Based on experience, however, wind and solar have not been able to keep up," he said.
In addition to discussing infrastructure policy changes through H.R. 4690, Guthrie voiced support for House Resolution 1182 highlighting Republican initiatives for rural communities this Congress—including domestic energy production measures and enhanced health care resources—citing recent legislation such as reversing Department of Energy restrictions on liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports and expanding resources for opioid response programs.
The House Energy and Commerce Committee has played a significant role in shaping policies concerning areas such as energy innovation, broadband deployment,and pharmaceutical pricing according to its official website. The committee is also one of the oldest standing committees in the U.S. House of Representatives; it traces its origins back to 1795 when it was formed as the Committee on Commerce and Manufactures according to information available from its official site.
