Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies (114th Congress)
[[{"fid":"64","view_mode":"full","fields":{"format":"full","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"Rep. Marcy Kaptur","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":"Rep. Marcy Kaptur"},"type":"media","field_deltas":{"1":{"format":"full","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"Rep. Marcy Kaptur","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":"Rep. Marcy Kaptur"}},"link_text":null,"attributes":{"alt":"Rep. Marcy Kaptur","title":"Rep. Marcy Kaptur","height":"320","width":"205","style":"float: left;","class":"media-element file-full","data-delta":"1"}}]]Marcy Kaptur (OH), Ranking Member
Pete Visclosky (IN)
José Serrano (NY)
Jurisdiction
Department of Energy
Department of Defense-Civil; Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers-Civil
Department of the Interior; Bureau of Reclamation; Central Utah Project
Related Agencies
Appalachian Regional Commission
Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board
Delta Regional Authority
Denali Commission
Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board
Tennessee Valley Authority
Good morning, Dr. Danielson, Dr. Orr, Secretary Smith and Hoffman, Mr. Kotek, we are so glad to have you all here today. Thank you all for being here today to present your 2016 program requests.
It is no secret that United States reliance on foreign energy imports—America's number one category in our trade deficit—presents a significant strategic threat, as well as a drain on our economy in terms of jobs and productivity. Last year, we turned a corner, producing more energy than we imported. Your offices deserve a great deal of credit for your accomplishments.
Some additional figures help us understand the big frame in which we are operating. For 2014, our overall trade deficit as a country in every category was up six percent, over half a trillion dollars, $505 billion. That was up from 2013, when our trade deficit was $476 billion.
Welcome, General Klotz, Dr. Cook, and General Davis. We appreciate you appearing before the Subcommittee this afternoon.
Since this Subcommittee last met to review the National Nuclear Security Administration budget, much has transpired. Russia's brazen intervention in Ukraine has caused great concern in this country and around the world. Just this week, the assassination of opposition leader Boris Nemtsov provided a deadly reminder of Russian President Putin's capability.
It is through that lens that we must assess our strategic future, including nuclear security.
There is nothing I take more seriously in my role as a Member of Congress than decisions of war and peace in general, and nuclear weapons in particular.
Good morning, Dr. Moniz, it is good to see you again. I appreciate your recent visit to Ohio and your willingness to work with us to address the challenges faced by communities in the part of the country that I represent.
First among those, I remain focused on job creation. I appreciate several of your proposals to meet this need—in particular, a $200 million increase for the Advanced Manufacturing program, which could do great things for our region and nation.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to welcome Secretary Moniz and thank him for coming before our committee today.
The President's budget request for fiscal year 2016 calls for investments in research, education, training, and infrastructure. It also calls for the end of the mindless austerity of sequestration, urging Congress to replace it with more targeted spending cuts, program integrity measures, and the closure of several outdated tax loopholes.
The effects of sequestration were immense, and are still being felt. Critical training was postponed; investments were put-off; and research abruptly halted. It was a worst-case scenario that never should have happened and absolutely should never be repeated.