Dems: ‘Bipartisan Energy Bill’ ‘Critical’ To Their States, Nation
Dem Senator: ‘I Truly Believe That This Bipartisan Bill Will Bring Us One Step Closer To Achieving U.S. Energy Independence’
DEMS: ‘This Bipartisan Package Includes Common-Sense Provisions,’ ‘Integral To Growing And Sustaining Our Energy Economy,’ ‘A Milestone’
SEN. HARRY REID (D-NV): “Today the Senate will begin consideration of a bipartisan bill that makes progress doable on this important goal. We have long sought to pass a number of priorities included in this bill. ... When Democrats were in the majority, we fought valiantly to pass a bipartisan piece of legislation called Shaheen-Portman. It was an innovative efficiency bill that would have reduced carbon emissions, would have saved families and businesses huge amounts of money, and supported 200,000 jobs in America. We tried to get this done.” (Sen. Reid, Congressional Record, 1/27/2016)
SEN. MARIA CANTWELL (D-WA): “Mr. President, I, too, rise this morning to talk about the Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2015. Yes, sometimes we can be cynical about this place and what we can get done; then, all of a sudden, we have a great opportunity to move something forward. The Senator from Alaska said it correctly. This is a milestone for the Senate. The fact that we are considering energy policy legislation on the Senate floor in a bipartisan bill, or any bill, for the first time since 2007 is a tremendous milestone. ...when we have had a bill on the floor for the first time since 2007, we should herald them in advance.” (Sen. Cantwell, Congressional Record, 1/27/2016)
SEN. JOE MANCHIN (D-WV): “As a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, I truly believe that this bipartisan bill will bring us one step closer to achieving U.S. energy independence… It is critical for America to establish an all-of-the-above energy portfolio that includes all of our domestic resources and to face the fact that coal will play an integral role in producing our electricity for decades to come. I am proud to have included critical measures to this bill that will ensure that we are investing in the necessary research development and advanced technologies to address the preservation of low cost electricity, clean coal production, cost effective energy practices and carbon emissions reduction.” (Sen. Manchin, Press Release, 7/30/15)
SEN. MARTIN HEINRICH (D-NM): ‘Bipartisan package… integral to growing and sustaining our energy economy in the state’ “This bipartisan package includes common-sense provisions to boost New Mexico's technology and renewable energy sectors… Supporting LNG exports, facilitating partnerships between our national labs and businesses, and protecting our nation's electric grid from cyber attacks are all integral to growing and sustaining our energy economy in the state.” (Sen. Heinrich, Press Release, 7/31/15)
SEN. MAZIE HIRONO (D-HI): ‘Bipartisan legislation … will bolster energy reliability and security in Hawaii and across the country’ “‘As Hawaii moves toward achieving a goal of 100 percent renewable energy, this bipartisan legislation supports research and development of a clean energy economy and protects our environment,’ said Senator Hirono. ‘My proposals to make our nation’s electric grid systems more resilient and extend loan guarantee programs for projects that reduce carbon and air pollutant emissions to U.S. Territories and the District of Columbia will bolster energy reliability and security in Hawaii and across the country.” (Sen. Hirono, Press Release, 7/30/15)
SEN. AL FRANKEN (D-MN): “If we want to compete in the global economy, we need to invest in modern energy systems… But we're falling behind: Congress has not passed large-scale energy legislation in eight years. While there are things I don't like in the legislative package passed today in the Energy Committee, ultimately I believe it's a good step towards getting us back on track. …I was pleased that several key measures I wrote were included in the bill.” (Sen. Franken, Press Release, 7/30/15)
SEN. ANGUS KING (I-ME): “U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today spearheaded the passage of an amendment through the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee that would provide badly-needed federal guidance to states as they work to settle disputes over the future of distributed energy resources.” (Sen. King, Press Release, 7/30/15)
SEN. DICK DURBIN (D-IL): ‘Our amendment will strengthen this bipartisan energy bill and help us move towards a 21st century economy,’ ‘America’s leadership in cutting-edge research is at risk if we do not invest in basic science research’ “U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN) today announced that their amendment to the Energy Policy Modernization Act was approved by the Senate. The amendment would approve over $31 billion of funding - $2.7 billion more than what was included in the original legislation – for the Department of Energy’s Office of Science by increasing its budget at a rate of 5% annual real growth (above inflation) each year for five years. … ‘America’s leadership in cutting-edge research is at risk if we do not invest in basic science research,’ said Durbin. ‘The numbers raise concerns. Current researchers are getting older. Young researchers are discouraged because our support has not been reliable. We can’t expect continued advances in science if we don’t support research in science. Congress needs to help America’s brightest scientific minds do what they do best. Our amendment will strengthen this bipartisan energy bill and help us move towards a 21st century economy.’” (Sen. Durbin, Press Release, 2/2/16)
SEN. ED MARKEY (D-MA): “…released the following statement today after the Senate passed his amendment to the Senate energy bill by a vote of 62-29 that would require the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to review and report back annually for three years on the impacts of crude oil exports on U.S. consumers, independent refineries, shipbuilders and energy production. … ‘The old saying is that knowledge is power,’ said Senator Markey. ‘My amendment will empower us with knowledge about the impacts of this new export policy so that we can make informed decisions to protect consumers, key sectors of our economy and our energy security. … I thank my colleagues for voting for this amendment on a bipartisan basis and look forward to working with Chairman Murkowski and Senator Cantwell to further strengthen this legislation.” (Sen. Markey, Press Release, 1/28/16)
SEN. BRIAN SCHATZ (D-HI): “The U.S. Senate today voted 55-37 to include an amendment to the Energy Policy Modernization Act that will authorize increased funding for energy science and technology research. The amendment, offered by U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), will boost funding for the Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E), an agency within the Department of Energy tasked with funding energy technology projects that help the United States compete, prosper, and remain a world leader. ‘Innovation in advanced energy technologies can be a significant part of the solution to any number of challenges – climate change, increasing the reliability of our grid, lowering electricity rates, hardening our energy infrastructure against cyber attacks, and many others,’ said Senator Schatz. ‘ARPA-E is helping fund projects at the cutting edge of all of these challenges, and more.’” (Sen. Schatz, Press Release, 1/28/16)
SEN. CHRIS MURPHY (D-CT): “…hailed Senate passage of his amendment to S.2012, Energy Policy Modernization Act. Murphy’s amendment to increase federal usage of recycled refrigerants in federally-owned buildings would greatly reduce emissions of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), a super pollutant and significant driver of climate change. … ‘Don’t look now, but the Senate just unanimously passed a climate change measure,’ said Murphy. ‘I pushed this amendment through because it’s a commonsense and cost-free way to combat climate change.’” (Sen. Murphy, Press Release, 2/2/16)
SEN. CORY BOOKER (D-NJ): “…today praised the passage of amendment 2991 to the Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2015, S. 2012, a bipartisan amendment that advanced through the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee late last night. The amendment would reauthorize the EPA Brownfields program through 2018 and was first introduced last June as S. 1479, the Brownfields Utilization, Investment, and Local Development Act of 2015 (BUILD Act). ‘Both during my time as mayor and as senator, I have seen firsthand how the Brownfields program helps revitalize communities across the state of New Jersey,’ Booker said. ‘I am proud that our bipartisan amendment to expand the eligibility and scope of this vital program has advanced and will now be included in the larger energy bill. Together we can and must restore the estimated 450,000 brownfield sites nationwide to productive uses.’” (Sen. Booker, Press Release, 2/2/16)
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Related Issues: Energy, Senate Democrats, Back to Work
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