Foxx Opening Remarks on Energy and DC Crime Bills

As prepared for delivery:

Good afternoon, the Committee will come to order. Without objection, the Chair is authorized to declare a recess at any time.

Before we begin, we have one housekeeping item: the Committee will recess at approximately 6:10 PM so that members can attend a candlelight vigil in the Capitol.

If we are unable to complete our business before then, we will reconvene after votes.

Today, the Rules Committee is convening to consider seven measures: H.R. 1047, H.R. 3015, H.R. 3062, H.R. 4922, H.R. 5125, H.R. 5140, and H.R. 5143.

H.R. 1047, the GRID Power Act , would provide grid operators across the nation with the authority to expedite the consideration of critical power generation projects.

Heavy-handed regulations imposed under the Obama and Biden-Harris administrations have smothered the electric grid in layer upon layer of bureaucratic lethargy.

The extended backlog of power generation projects that has been created because of these heavy-handed regulations has yielded an electric grid that's less reliable, less secure, and more vulnerable.

Power demand in the nation is on the rise, and to meet that demand, we must ensure that the electric grid is up to snuff and that dispatchable power is abundant and not constrained.

H.R. 3015, the National Coal Council Reestablishment Act , would permanently reauthorize the National Coal Council under the Department of Energy. The nation's coal industry makes significant contributions to the energy landscape here in the United States - it has long been the backbone of American energy independence.

The Biden-Harris administration terminated the charter for this longstanding council - and Republicans will be the ones to restore the council alongside President Trump.

H.R. 3062, the Promoting Cross-border Energy Infrastructure Act , enhances North American energy by streamlining the permitting process for projects that connect U.S. energy resources with international markets.

This legislation creates a statutory framework that aids the approval process for facilities managing the import and export of oil, natural gas, and electricity transmission.

It also provides the nation's energy developers the regulatory clarity they need while insulating critical infrastructure from all manner of politically oriented policy reversals.

In short, this legislation is yet another example of a good faith effort to strengthen the security of American energy while reinforcing existing energy-related partnerships that make our domestic economy strong.

The four measures before us from the Oversight Committee - H.R. 4922, 5125, 5140, and 5143 - serve to restore law and order in D.C., address chronic juvenile crime, and expand the Constitutional oversight role of Congress over the District.

I do anticipate that we will have a good, thorough discussion of these bills - in which we will hear more about the policy prescriptions that can help restore law and order in D.C. and make this city safe again for its residents and visitors. I look forward to that testimony and discussion.

With that, I look forward to today's discussion, and I now yield to the Ranking Member, Mr. McGovern for any comments he wishes to make.

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