Marcy Kaptur: “Members and Madam Chairman, I am having help from the pager placing this chart up here. It shows how much petroleum…”

“Members and Madam Chairman, I am having help from the pager placing this chart up here. It shows how much petroleum America imports--the red line--and overall how much petroleum we use. Energy- wise, America is a totally dependent Nation. I offer this amendment to help restore the energy security, economic security, and environmental security of our Nation. Nothing could be more vital. My amendment takes a small step by shifting a very small amount of funds, $10 million, from the administrative costs within the Department of Energy to help restore funds to solar energy research and development within the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Program. Sadly, the base bill jeopardizes America's new energy future. It cuts research in solar energy by more than one-third from last year, and over 60 percent from the President's request, providing $166 million for 2012, but that's $97 million below fiscal year 2011 and $291 million below the President's request. The $10 million in reprogramming represents less than 5 percent of the $220 million administrative budget of the Department of Energy. If the Department of Energy made their buildings more energy efficient, we could shift the funds into research on new technologies. For months I have been hearing from constituents outraged about the high price of gas and energy in our country.…”