The House on Tuesday afternoon rejected a several Democratic amendments aimed at restoring funds to the Department of Energy's energy efficiency and renewable energy research and development program. Democrats argued Monday that the GOP's 2012 Energy and Water Appropriations Act, H.R. 2354, cuts funding for these programs unfairly, while leaving or even increasing funds for oil, gas and coal research and development.
Despite these arguments, the House soundly rejected several of the amendments, including language from Rep. Edward Markey (D-Mass.) to move $100 million into the green energy research program from nuclear and fossil-related programs. This amendment failed in a 154-266 vote.
By a 173-249 vote, the House rejected language from Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) to increase the program by $46 million, and cut the fossil energy research program by $99 million. By a similar vote, members spiked a proposal from Rep. Brad Miller (D-N.C.) to increase the program by $24 million, and cut fossil fuel research by $50 million.
And in a 123-300 vote, members rejected language from Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) that sought to transfer $491 million from the National Nuclear Security Administration to the green energy program.
But while members rejected these Democratic proposals to increase funding for green energy research, members also rejected Republican proposals to cut this and similar funding even further. A proposal from Rep. Paul Broun (R-Ga.) to cut $26.5 million from clean vehicle technology research failed 131-292.
Another amendment from Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-Kan.) to cut $45.6 million from a new vehicle technology program failed 127-296. A proposal to cut $500 million from various energy research and development programs from Rep. Scott Garrett (R-N.J.) failed 149-274, and one from Rep. Tom McClintock (R-Calif.) to cut $166 million from solar power research and development failed 119-305.
The House accepted just one amendment in the early Tuesday afternoon series of votes, from Rep. Pete Sessions (R-Texas). His amendment, accepted in a 224-196 vote, would remove language barring the use of funds to convert functions done by government employees to private companies.
Other amendments considered Tuesday were from:
• Rep. Jim Moran (D-Va.), to strike language precluding the Army Corps of Engineers and Environmental Protection Agency from issuing regulations clarifying which waters call under federal protection. Failed 170-250.
• Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-Colo.), to strike language allowing the secretary of Energy to redirect unspent stimulus weatherization funding from one state to another, saving $1.5 billion. Failed 164-259.
• Rep. Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.), to transfer $227 million from National Nuclear Security Administration Weapons Security to state and federal weatherization programs. Failed 149-273.
• Rep. David Wu (D-Ore.), to transfer $60 million from Departmental Administration to Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. Failed 196-228.
• Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), to foster cooperative effort with NASA for the production of plutonium. Failed 167-257.
• Rep. John Garamendi (D-Calif.), to transfer $450 million from Fossil Energy Research and Development to the Advanced Research Projects Agency. Failed 145-276.
After these votes, the House proceeded to the flood insurance reform bill, and was expected to consider more amendments to the water and energy bill later Tuesday or Wednesday.
By Pete Kasperowicz
Source: http://thehill.com
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