David Skaggs: “this amendment would move an additional $8 million into some very important energy conservation programs in the bill. It…”

“this amendment would move an additional $8 million into some very important energy conservation programs in the bill. It would be offset by a $4 million reduction in the Mineral Management Services account and an additional $4 million offset against the fossil energy R&D program. The 8 million, it is my intention, would be divided, with 3 million to the Federal Energy Management Program, which makes tremendous difference in reducing the costs of operating Federal buildings and, therefore, a major contribution to our efforts to control the budget, and 5 million to the building equipment and materials program, which promotes major energy conservation programs in building construction around the country. I have been pleased to work with the chairman on this. Mr. Chairman, these en bloc amendments would increase by $8 million the funding for important energy conservation programs. To do this, they would reduce by $4 million each the funding for leasing of oil and gas on the Outer Continental Shelf and for fossil energy programs. One of the most serious shortcomings of this bill is the inadequate funding that it would provide for the programs managed by the Department of Energy's office of energy efficiency and renewable energy. These energy conservation programs return big dividends, including important reductions in the amounts that the Government must spend for energy.”