Ranking Member Kaptur Leads Efforts To Lower Energy Prices and Strengthen National SecurityPress ReleaseTradeJobs and the EconomyEnergy

Washington, DC - Today, House Democrats exposed how Republicans' Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies 2027 funding bill raises costs for American households, weakens our national security, and abandons communities cleaning up radioactive waste.

The legislation:

• Increases energy costs, jeopardizes energy independence, and hurts United States' competitiveness by slashing the Department of Energy's Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation programs (formerly called Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy) by 40 percent, revoking $2.8 Billion from the Department of Energy's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law resources, and cutting the Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy by $50 Million.
• Weakens national security and leaves Americans more vulnerable to nuclear threats by cutting the National Nuclear Security Administration's Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation account by 12 percent.
• Abandons commitments to communities to clean up radioactive waste by eliminating funding for the Corps of Engineers' Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program and cutting the Department of Energy's Office of Environmental Management by 10 percent.

"This Committee has the ability to develop and pass bipartisan bills, and we hold an imperative to build a new energy age on this planet we all call home. I'm disappointed, that the bill before us today has tilted to a partisan framing, and my hope going forward is we can course correct," said Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies. "US energy independence in perpetuity is an imperative. Respect for Mother Earth must be our North Star. US national security requires US energy security. I voted against this bill in its current form, because major changes are needed. Let us work together to improve it as it moves forward. Together, I know we can meet the new frontiers of energy and water."

Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur's full remarks are here.

"House Republicans have advanced yet another funding bill that increases costs. This time, they are raising energy costs for businesses and middle class, working class, and vulnerable Americans across the country," said Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (CT-03). "Republicans Energy and Water funding bill threatens our national security by cutting funds used to stop the spread of nuclear weapons. And it exposes communities to radioactive waste, reducing funding used to control and clean up hazardous nuclear sites throughout the country. American families are struggling to keep up with rising costs today, living paycheck to paycheck. One of the central factors driving the cost-of-living crisis is the rising cost of energy. Utility bills keep going up, and instead of providing relief, Republicans' plan is to cut back on programs that support our energy independence, increase energy supply, and help drive costs down. This bill is an attack on the country's energy future. Democrats want to lower costs and ensure America leads the global transition to a clean energy economy. Republicans want to pass a funding bill that raises costs and makes us less safe."

Congresswoman DeLauro's full remarks are here.

During today's markup, Democrats fought to make changes to Republicans' bill, including to:

• Withhold the Secretary of Energy's funding until the Department of Energy unfreezes funds for the Renew America's Schools and Home Energy Rebates programs.
• Reverse the politicization and unjustified cancellation of energy projects across the country.
• Address rising energy prices by increasing funds for the Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation and the Office of Electricity.
• Urge the Department of Energy to release funds for the Home Efficiency Rebates Program and High Efficiency Electric Home Rebates Program.
• Increase funds for the Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy (ARPA-E).

These changes were rejected by House Republicans.

A summary of the bill is here. A fact sheet is here.

The text of the bill, before the adoption of amendments in full committee, is here. The bill report, before the adoption of amendments in full Committee, is here. Information on Community Project Funding in the bill is here.

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