On the recordJune 1, 2012
My amendment would transfer $15 million from the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy research program to the Office of Science. It would also reduce the EERE account by an additional $15 million, which could be put towards deficit reduction. The Obama administration has consistently prioritized industrial policy, under the guise of applied science, at the cost of reduced support for our Nation's critical basic science research and our national labs. EERE's Advanced Manufacturing Office is $35 million above current fiscal year 2012 levels. EERE's water technologies program is $25 million above the President's budget request. EERE's vehicle technologies program is $42 million above where it was just last year. EERE's solar technology program receives $155 million, despite billions of dollars of recent loan guarantees to solar companies and several high-profile industry failures. This amendment would remove $15 million from the EERE account, which is spent on subsidizing solar power and wind energy, and move it back to the Office of Science, where I would hope report language could specifically target it for the high-energy physics program which is critical to our long-term economic success and scientific leadership. At this time, I yield to the gentlewoman from South Dakota (Mrs. Noem).
