Chairwoman Kaptur Statement at Subcommittee Markup of FY 2021 Energy and Water Development Funding Bill

WASHINGTON — Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), Chair of the Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee, delivered the following remarks at the Subcommittee's markup of its fiscal year 2021 bill:

Today we consider the fiscal year 2021 funding bill for Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies.

This bill makes critical investments to combat climate change, strengthen our nation’s energy and water infrastructure, and responsibly fund our nation’s nuclear deterrent while rejecting the Administration’s dangerous plan to restart nuclear explosive testing.

In addition to regular appropriations, the bill includes additional infrastructure investments to help our nation respond to the economic recession following the coronavirus pandemic.

This bill rejects the President’s drastic and short-sighted proposed cuts and instead continues investments in important programs that keep our nation at the forefront of global energy innovation, enables the efficient shipment of goods, and provides water and electricity to 31 million Americans and irrigation to ten million acres of valuable farmland. These programs are the lifeblood for millions of Americans.

Let me briefly walk through the bill:

The mark provides $7.6 billion for the Army Corps of Engineers, the second year of record funding and an increase of $1.7 billion above the budget request in additional funding to support projects across the country and in our districts.

• The mark provides $1.64 billion for the Bureau of Reclamation, an increase of $508 million above the request.
   
• The mark provides $41 billion for the Department of Energy, an increase of $5.1 billion above the request.
   
• Within DOE, the bill contains historic funding levels for the following programs:
   
  • The Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy program receives $2.85 billion, $2.1 billion above the request.
  • ARPA-E receives $435 million – a record amount for a program the President proposed to eliminate.
  • And the Office of Science receives $7.05 billion, $1.2 billion above the request.

• This bill also provides an increase for the Weatherization Assistance Program, which helps ensure that low-income households have energy-efficient, more livable homes.
   
• The National Nuclear Security Administration receives $18 billion, $1.3 billion above 2020. Within NNSA:
   
  • The bill responsibly funds America’s nuclear deterrent while prohibiting nuclear weapons testing; and
  • Nuclear Nonproliferation receives $2.24 billion, an increase of $209 million above the request.

• Finally, this bill prohibits funds to be used for a border wall and does not allow the President to bypass congressional intent to divert valuable Corps funding from previously approved appropriations.

Importantly, the bill also includes additional investments in infrastructure, including:

• $17 billion for the Corps to accelerate projects, including $10 billion in Construction and $5 billion in Operation and Maintenance;
   
• $3 billion to accelerate work on Reclamation projects; and
   
• $23.5 billion for DOE to modernize infrastructure and deploy technologies for a clean energy future.

In short, this bill will put Americans back to work by investing in energy innovation, promoting economic prosperity, and help prepare American industry to compete globally. DOE’s energy innovation

programs help our country to mitigate and adapt to climate change – work that was highlighted and recommended to continue under the recent report on Solving the Climate Crisis.

This bill makes desperately needed investments in water infrastructure, clean energy technologies, and promotes a credible nuclear deterrent while supporting a robust nonproliferation program.

I’d like to thank all our Subcommittee members for their engagement during the unusual process this year as we work remotely.

I also want to thank my Ranking Member, Mr. Simpson. I so enjoy our collegial partnership.

I will now turn to Mr. Simpson for any opening remarks.

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