On the recordMay 20, 2015
This is a dangerous proposal that would stifle the kind of high-risk, outside-the-box thinking that has put the United States on the cutting edge of scientific research. If this bill were to become law, it would eliminate valuable and scientifically sound research on climate change within the Department of Energy under the guise of a cost-cutting measure. After all, Mr. Chairman, isn't that what this is about? It is about the other side just not believing in climate change, despite the science. In addition to all of the dangerous and harmful things that this bill does do, it lacks any substantively helpful provisions in a number of areas. I actually proposed an amendment that would simply look at our 21st century workforce by supporting research at minority-serving institutions, growing STEM fields for young people who we know have to go into the 21st century workforce. It flat-funds the education directorate at the National Science Foundation. I can't think of anything more harmful than doing a COMPETES legislation that is, at its core, the most anticompetitive legislation that could be put on this floor. It is a danger to the 21st century.
