Political Quotes

“Mr. Chairman, I share some of my colleague's concern about excess spending in EERE. EERE received over $16 billion from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, of which there are billions in unobligated balances remaining. These reasons are exactly why, and my colleague from Texas alluded to this in his amendment, we reduced EERE spending by $1.5 billion below fiscal year 2024. In fact, the House bill has reduced funding for EERE below the fiscal 2016 level. However, respectfully, my colleague's amendment goes too far in my view by eliminating funding for EERE. I am actually a supporter of EERE. The work that they do advances research and development on renewable technologies, advanced manufacturing, and battery improvement. That includes essential work on critical minerals that will help lay the groundwork for technologies that will reduce our reliance on foreign supplies. I think that is an issue we all can support. I support strategic reductions to EERE, but I am not in favor of eliminating the account and walking away from its ongoing work. Mr. Chair, for those reasons I must oppose my colleague's amendment, I urge my colleagues to do the same, and I reserve the balance of my time.”