Ed Whitfield

Before I get into a specific discussion of this legislation, I do want to thank the staff on both the Republican and Democratic side of the Energy and Commerce Committee. I certainly want to thank Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Rush, and Mr. Pallone for…

I thank the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Johnson) for introducing this important bill. This is an industry that has been hard hit by the recession. It has lost 45 percent of its jobs. There are 70 of these plants around the country, and they…

Today, we have the important opportunity to protect the American brick manufacturing industry and the ceramic kiln industry and its 7,000 employees from a costly regulation that has yet to survive a judicial scrutiny. At this time, I yield…

But, now, you all are proposing some mandatory funding and taking money out of the USEC fund which I guess has just been sitting there.

And how much is the Department of Energy spending each year to assist these communities in cleanup, total?

And so here we are kind of at a stalemate on that issue.

And it is my understanding--and I think you confirmed this--that that interim site would never work unless Congress approves it.

Congress, however, will need more information before responding to the budget requests on how limited DOE research dollars will work to augment the commitments made by the private sector.

We should be promoting and embracing our resources to keep energy affordable for folks in Michigan and across the country.

I take serious issue with the nearly 10 percent boost in overall funding levels and I still question the direction DOE is taking on energy policy.

The administration has chosen to make climate an agency priority without any statutory authority from Congress.

This budget continues to reflect the President's priority to treat climate change as the number one issue facing America.

I take serious issue with the nearly 10 percent increase in overall funding level requests.

I want to thank once again Ms. Grace Meng for bringing this important issue to the attention of the Energy and Commerce Committee. I would urge all Members to support this legislation. I yield back the balance of my time.

I am a pro-energy, pro-growth congressman from the pro-growth, pro-energy city of Houston, Texas.

I hope that you all will tell us, do we need to do something? Is there anything that we can do to facilitate this?

I appreciate that, but I am not there. I am not negotiating. I am not even discussing it.

Will you all work with us to provide this information that the staffs are asking for?

I simply would ask, would you work with the providers to see about developing a model that is acceptable to everyone?

These bills extend the life of the licenses by 6 to 8 years, allowing these job-creating projects to move forward.

Projects that update and expand the Nation's energy infrastructure will create jobs and lead to greater supplies of affordable domestic energy for our homes and businesses.

The result of the passage of these eight bills will be more jobs, more energy for the American people at an affordable price, and I would urge all my colleagues to support them.

We feel quite confident that the Senate will recognize that we have perfected this legislation and they will adopt it.

I do want to thank both the Democratic and Republican staff, certainly Diana DeGette and Renee Ellmers for working together on this important legislation.

I demand a recorded vote. The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Virginia will be postponed. Amendment No. 18 Offered by Mr. Peters The Acting CHAIR. It is…