Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies (113th Congress)

Mr. Chairman, I want to congratulate you on beginning the markup process for the Energy and Water bill. I would also like to thank the majority Subcommittee staff and your personal staff for their great work.

As you have already pointed out, the allocation for Energy and Water is essentially flat when compared to 2014. I know you were faced with very difficult decisions with this allocation, particularly on the Defense allocation.

Let me first express my appreciation for the bipartisan approach you and your staff took in developing this product. I do believe it is a reflection of interests on both sides of the aisle.

I appreciate the robust funding for the Corps of Engineers, the balanced approach you took to the energy accounts and the levels of funding for science and ARPA-E.

Assistant Secretary Darcy and General Bostick, we appreciate you appearing before the Subcommittee this afternoon.

The last several years have been busy ones for the Corps—between Superstorm Sandy, Hurricane Irene, droughts, tornados, and flooding in the Mississippi and Missouri River Basins, you have had much to do. Let's hope that the year ahead of us is less full of surprises.

The Corps' response to these events demonstrates the important and vital role the Corps plays in our nation's ability to prevent and respond to natural disasters. We are all very thankful for the Corps' efforts in this regard. However, these events draw attention to the significant cost borne by the government, and ultimately the taxpayer, in the initial response and long-term reconstruction efforts.

Good morning, Dr. Danielson, it is good to see you again. Dr. Lyons, Secretary Smith and Hoffman, good morning. Thank you all for being here today to update the Subcommittee on your programs.

Today we consider the applied research and development portfolios at the Department of Energy—Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Nuclear Energy, Fossil Energy and the office that at least in theory, links them all together Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability — all critical areas of our nation's energy portfolio.

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.