Chair DeLauro Statement at FY 2022 Budget Request for the Department of Energy Hearing
Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Chair of the House Appropriations Committee, delivered the following remarks at the Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies Subcommittee's hearing on the FY 2022 Budget Request for the Department of Energy:
Thank you, Chairwoman Kaptur and Ranking Member Simpson, for holding today’s hearing. And welcome to Secretary Jennifer Granholm, who is just the second woman ever to lead the Department of Energy. Thank you for joining us. As Governor of Michigan you successfully led efforts to prioritize clean energy in the state, and now one-third of all North American electric vehicle battery production takes place in Michigan. Your track record along with your profound depth of knowledge and dedication to our environment makes you a strong leader in this role.
Today, I look forward to your testimony on the administration’s discretionary budget request for the Department of Energy and its critical work in addressing the energy and environmental challenges facing our nation. How we move forward with our energy initiatives will impact future generations, and it is our responsibility to take care of this planet that we call home.
The threat that is global climate change impacts every aspect of life as we know it. For our economic, national, and environmental security, we need to shift away from fossil fuels and diversify with investments in the next generation of clean and renewable energy technologies. With President Biden’s funding request for the Department of Energy we are taking steps to provide a better, safer, and cleaner future for all Americans.
The 10.2 percent increase in the budget for the Department reflects much-needed advancements for clean energy jobs, community investments, and the safety and security of our nuclear stockpile.
The numbers do not lie: investing in clean energy creates jobs and strengthens our economy. In my home state of Connecticut, a $1.2 billion investment in our clean energy economy generated over $75 million in tax revenues prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, there were more than 44,400 clean energy workers employed in over 4,300 companies within Connecticut’s $6.5 billion clean energy economy. And once we recover from the impacts of COVID-19, those numbers are expected to grow.
President Biden has stressed the importance of creating jobs for the American people and clean energy initiatives is one of the first steps to achieve that goal. Funding would be used for building clean energy projects and workforce initiatives to cut carbon pollution while creating good-paying jobs. By investing $8 billion into new technologies such as advanced nuclear energy technologies, electric vehicles, and green hydrogen, President Biden’s budget request will transform American power and help move our nation’s economy into the 21st century.
In addition, the budget request prioritizes funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Minority-Serving Institutions, cleanup efforts at World War II and Cold War nuclear sites, and recapitalization of the National Nuclear Security Administration’s infrastructure and facilities.
This will also support transformative solutions for carbon-free energy, adaptation, and climate resilience. As this Committee puts together the appropriations bill for the next year, supporting the Department of Energy will be crucial in achieving these goals.
With that I want to say thank you to Chairwoman Kaptur and Ranking Member Simpson and I yield back.