Matt Rosendale: “Under Secretary Granholm, we have seen America's energy prices skyrocket with no clear plan to help Americans other than…”

“Under Secretary Granholm, we have seen America's energy prices skyrocket with no clear plan to help Americans other than to further deplete our Strategic Petroleum Reserves. The Department of Energy has done nothing to show they deserve an increase in funding from last year. Secretary Granholm routinely speaks about how her intention is to quickly move away from traditional energy industries. Many Americans rely on these industries for their livelihoods. This administration shows a lack of clear consideration of these people and industries, even as they are necessary during our transition to clean energy. Furthermore, the very people that get hurt the most by this reckless administration's actions are the ones at the lowest end of the income scale. Quite frankly, if you just look at one section of this legislation, we don't want to compromise our national defense. One section, $1.2 billion, the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy is where the Federal Government is picking winners and losers to try and develop different types of fuel, including biofuels and batteries and the Federal Government should not be involved in that. The free market knows how to do it. They know how to do it the best. They have demonstrated they know how to do it the most efficiently. Further, Mr. Chair, I would just like to say that there is no reason that we cannot remove a meager $1.55 billion from this total bill. I yield back the balance of my time. The Acting CHAIR.…”