Press Release : Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies

Toledo, Ohio — Today, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, and Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, sent a letter to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) requesting it review whether a recent order issued by Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Chris Wright that seeks to accelerate project execution might actually lead to more cost overruns, project delays and failures, and waste, fraud, and abuse at America’s national labs.

Today, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, and Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, responded to reports of plans for potential mass reductions in force (RIF) at the Department of Energy, which could reduce the Department’s staffing levels by nearly 50% and affect even critical offices charged with protecting our nation’s nuclear security.

Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (CT-03); Appropriations Energy and Water Development Subcommittee Ranking Member Marcy Kaptur (OH-09); Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06); Energy and Commerce Energy Subcommittee Ranking Member Kathy Castor (FL-14); Science, Space, and Technology Committee Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (CA-18); Science, Space, and Technology Energy Subcommittee Ranking Member Deborah Ross (NC-02) sent a letter to United States Department of Energy (DOE) Acting Inspector General Sarah Nelson requesting an investigation into all financial assistance and contracts including any cancelled awards and contracts.

Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (D, OH-09), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, and Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chair and Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development Ranking Member, sent a new letter to Energy Secretary Chris Wright, demanding answers about the Department of Energy’s freeze of key energy investments. Kaptur and Murray pressed Secretary Wright to provide answers to questions they posed in a January 31 letter — responses that DOE has failed to provide—and to expeditiously release illegally blocked funding.

Today, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, and Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chair and Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development Ranking Member, issued the following statement in response to reports regarding thousands of probationary employee firings across the Department of Energy, including employees at the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). The Members are demanding an immediate briefing to Congress by Secretary Chris Wright.

WASHINGTON — House Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) and Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Ranking Member Marcy Kaptur (OH-09) released seven new fact sheets detailing how President Trump’s funding freeze is raising prices for Americans across the country. By continuing to steal Department of Energy (DOE) funds promised to help families pay their energy bills, the Trump Administration is not only hurting the middle class, it continues to violate recent court orders.

Washington, DC — Today, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, and Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chair and Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development Ranking Member wrote a letter to the Acting Secretary of the Department of Energy demanding answers about the Trump administration withholding critical investments to lower energy costs for American families and businesses, spur innovation, and strengthen our energy security.

House Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03) released the following statement on the introduction of a funding bill to avert a government shutdown.