Energy and Water

Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-NY), Ranking Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, today issued the following statement on President Obama's FY 2015 budget request:

"The FY2015 budget and appropriations process offers Congress its best opportunity in years to reject the politics of brinkmanship and crisis management, and instead fulfill our responsibility to invest in our future, create and protect jobs, and support services on which American families rely.

Good afternoon. Dr. Moniz, it is good to see you again and welcome to your first appearance before the Subcommittee.

Mr. Secretary, the early reviews on your tenure as Secretary have been good from most, if not all, quarters but I believe the hardest challenges lie before you.

I have long sited our reliance on foreign energy as a grave economic and national security concern—over the last decade, we have spent $2.3 trillion importing foreign oil, making rich some of the worst global players at the expense of our own citizens.

2013 enacted level (excluding Sandy reconstruction): $33.2 billion

2014 Committee mark: $30.4 billion

2014 Omnibus: $34.1 billion

· $1.912 billion for Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy, which is $102 million more than the 2013 enacted level.

· $5.071 billion for the Department of Energy Office of Science, which is $205 million more than the 2013 enacted level.