Todd Tiahrt: “I rise today to ensure that H.R. 1649, the act to abolish the Department of Energy, does not get pushed behind a copy…”

“I rise today to ensure that H.R. 1649, the act to abolish the Department of Energy, does not get pushed behind a copy machine like two highly classified secret hard disk drives were recently. In 1995, I was the leader of the House task force that first introduced the Department of Energy Abolishment Act. Back then we highlighted four principal reasons why Congress needs to eliminate the Department of Energy. Listen to the same principles which still hold true: Number one, the DOE no longer serves as a core energy-related mission. In fact, less than 20 percent of the current Department of Energy budget is dedicated to energy-related activities. Number two, the Department of Energy is a failed cabinet level agency, unable to meet its most basic obligations. Number three, the Department of Energy has developed into a feeding trough for corporate welfare recipients. Number four, DOE wastes billions of taxpayer dollars annually. These four principles still stand true today; and unfortunately, now we can add a fifth principle, a reason why Congress must abolish this agency. That reason is that the Department of Energy has become and continues to be a serious threat to the security of this Nation.”