Sheila Jackson Lee: “I just want to take a moment, Mr. Chairman, as we have been debating important energy issues on the floor of the House…”

“I just want to take a moment, Mr. Chairman, as we have been debating important energy issues on the floor of the House, to offer my deepest sympathy to the families who have lost loved ones in San Bernardino and hope that we will come together as a country and find solutions to this terrible tragedy. Mr. Chairman, I thank you for giving me the opportunity to introduce this amendment because it talks about the goodness of this Nation and the wonderment of our youth. My amendment particularly is called the Youth Energy Enterprise Competition. It asks the Secretaries of Energy and Commerce to jointly establish an energy enterprise competition to encourage youth to propose solutions to the energy challenges of the United States and to promote youth interests and careers in science, technology, engineering, and math, especially those fields that relate to energy. As a member of the United States Congress, I have had the privilege of being on the Congressional Award Board that provides medals to young people across the country for their public service, for their volunteerism. I can see when they come to Washington the excitement and the future of this Nation. I truly believe that the future of this Nation is in energy independence. Economic growth, national security, expanding opportunities, and diversifying the energy sector workforce are critical issues we must invest our time and talent in.…”