Lee Terry: “it is with regret that I come to the floor today in opposition to this legislation--H.R. 4614, the Fiscal 2005 Energy…”

“it is with regret that I come to the floor today in opposition to this legislation--H.R. 4614, the Fiscal 2005 Energy and Water Appropriations bill. Unfortunately, this bill Fails to adequately address America's future energy needs. I realize H.R. 4614 is about more than just energy, and it does contain some good provisions. There is funding for important flood control projects, scientific research, nuclear non-proliferation programs, and environmental cleanup. But this legislation falls well short in the realm of energy, especially in this time of tight energy supplies and volatile energy prices. The most glaring shortfall is that it provides only 14 percent of the amount requested for construction of the nuclear waste facility at Yucca Mountain, Nevada. The administration has stated that the Yucca Mountain facility will need to have about $1.3 billion a year if it is to meet the 2010 deadline for opening. This bill appropriates only $131 million for fiscal 2005.”