    [House Hearing, 116 Congress]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]

        INVESTING IN AMERICA'S ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE: IMPROVING ENERGY
                  EFFICIENCY AND CREATING A DIVERSE WORKFORCE

    =======================================================================

                                    HEARING

                                   BEFORE THE

                             SUBCOMMITTEE ON ENERGY

                                     OF THE

                        COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND COMMERCE
                            HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                         ONE HUNDRED SIXTEENTH CONGRESS

                                 FIRST SESSION

                                   __________

                                 APRIL 10, 2019

                                   __________

                               Serial No. 116-24

    [GRAPHIC NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

          Printed for the use of the Committee on Energy and Commerce

                       govinfo.gov/committee/house-energy
                            energycommerce.house.gov

                                     __________

                        U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE
    39-841 PDF                  WASHINGTON : 2020

    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                        COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND COMMERCE

                         FRANK PALLONE, Jr., New Jersey
                                     Chairman
    BOBBY L. RUSH, Illinois              GREG WALDEN, Oregon
    ANNA G. ESHOO, California              Ranking Member
    ELIOT L. ENGEL, New York             FRED UPTON, Michigan
    DIANA DeGETTE, Colorado              JOHN SHIMKUS, Illinois
    MIKE DOYLE, Pennsylvania             MICHAEL C. BURGESS, Texas
    JAN SCHAKOWSKY, Illinois             STEVE SCALISE, Louisiana
    G. K. BUTTERFIELD, North Carolina    ROBERT E. LATTA, Ohio
    DORIS O. MATSUI, California          CATHY McMORRIS RODGERS, Washington
    KATHY CASTOR, Florida                BRETT GUTHRIE, Kentucky
    JOHN P. SARBANES, Maryland           PETE OLSON, Texas
    JERRY McNERNEY, California           DAVID B. McKINLEY, West Virginia
    PETER WELCH, Vermont                 ADAM KINZINGER, Illinois
    BEN RAY LUJAN, New Mexico            H. MORGAN GRIFFITH, Virginia
    PAUL TONKO, New York                 GUS M. BILIRAKIS, Florida
    YVETTE D. CLARKE, New York, Vice     BILL JOHNSON, Ohio
        Chair                            BILLY LONG, Missouri
    DAVID LOEBSACK, Iowa                 LARRY BUCSHON, Indiana
    KURT SCHRADER, Oregon                BILL FLORES, Texas
    JOSEPH P. KENNEDY III,               SUSAN W. BROOKS, Indiana
        Massachusetts                    MARKWAYNE MULLIN, Oklahoma
    TONY CARDENAS, California            RICHARD HUDSON, North Carolina
    RAUL RUIZ, California                TIM WALBERG, Michigan
    SCOTT H. PETERS, California          EARL L. ``BUDDY'' CARTER, Georgia
    DEBBIE DINGELL, Michigan             JEFF DUNCAN, South Carolina
    MARC A. VEASEY, Texas                GREG GIANFORTE, Montana
    ANN M. KUSTER, New Hampshire
    ROBIN L. KELLY, Illinois
    NANETTE DIAZ BARRAGAN, California
    A. DONALD McEACHIN, Virginia
    LISA BLUNT ROCHESTER, Delaware
    DARREN SOTO, Florida
    TOM O'HALLERAN, Arizona
                                     ------

                               Professional Staff

                       JEFFREY C. CARROLL, Staff Director
                    TIFFANY GUARASCIO, Deputy Staff Director
                    MIKE BLOOMQUIST, Minority Staff Director
                             Subcommittee on Energy

                            BOBBY L. RUSH, Illinois
                                     Chairman
    SCOTT H. PETERS, California          FRED UPTON, Michigan
    MIKE DOYLE, Pennsylvania               Ranking Member
    JOHN P. SARBANES, Maryland           ROBERT E. LATTA, Ohio
    JERRY McNERNEY, California, Vice     CATHY McMORRIS RODGERS, Washington
        Chair                            PETE OLSON, Texas
    PAUL TONKO, New York                 DAVID B. McKINLEY, West Virginia
    DAVID LOEBSACK, Iowa                 ADAM KINZINGER, Illinois
    G. K. BUTTERFIELD, North Carolina    H. MORGAN GRIFFITH, Virginia
    PETER WELCH, Vermont                 BILL JOHNSON, Ohio
    KURT SCHRADER, Oregon                LARRY BUCSHON, Indiana
    JOSEPH P. KENNEDY III,               BILL FLORES, Texas
        Massachusetts                    RICHARD HUDSON, North Carolina
    MARC A. VEASEY, Texas                TIM WALBERG, Michigan
    ANN M. KUSTER, New Hampshire         GREG WALDEN, Oregon (ex officio)
    ROBIN L. KELLY, Illinois
    NANETTE DIAZ BARRAGAN, California
    A. DONALD McEACHIN, Virginia
    TOM O'HALLERAN, Arizona
    LISA BLUNT ROCHESTER, Delaware
    FRANK PALLONE, Jr., New Jersey (ex
        officio)

                                C O N T E N T S

                                  ----------
                                                                       Page
    Hon. Bobby L. Rush, a Representative in Congress from the State
      of Illinois, opening statement.................................     1
        Prepared statement...........................................     2
    Hon. Fred Upton, a Representative in Congress from the State of
      Michigan, opening statement....................................     3
        Prepared statement...........................................     4
    Hon. Frank Pallone, Jr., a Representative in Congress from the
      State of New Jersey, opening statement.........................     5
        Prepared statement...........................................     7
    Hon. Greg Walden, a Representative in Congress from the State of
      Oregon, opening statement\1\                                        8
        Prepared statement...........................................     9

                                   Witnesses

    Daniel R. Simmons, Assistance Secretary, Office of Energy
      Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of Energy..........    11
        Prepared statement...........................................    13
        Answers to submitted questions...............................    93
    James E. Campos, Director, Office of Economic Impact and
      Diversity, Department of Energy................................    23
        Prepared statement...........................................    25
        Answers to submitted questions...............................   103

                               Submitted Material

    H.R. 1315, the Blue Collar to Green Collar Jobs Development Act
      of 2019, submitted by Mr. Rush\2\
    H.R. 2019, the Smart Energy and Water Efficiency Act of 2019,
      submitted by Mr. Rush\2\
    H.R. 2041, the Weatherization Enhancement and Local Energy
      Efficiency Investment and Accountability Act, submitted by Mr.
      Rush\2\
    H.R. 2043, the Home Owner Managing Energy Savings Act of 2019,
      submitted by Mr. Rush\2\
    H.R. 2044, the Smart Building Acceleration Act, submitted by Mr.
      Rush\2\
    H.R. 2088, A Bill to amend the Energy Independence and Security
      Act of 2007 to reauthorize the Energy Efficiency and
      Conservation Block Grant Program, and for other purposes,
      submitted by Mr. Rush\2\
    H.R. 2114, the Enhancing State Energy Security Planning and
      Emergency Preparedness Act of 2019, submitted by Mr. Rush\2\
    H.R. 2119, A Bill to amend the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to
      reauthorize grants for improving the energy efficiency of
      public buildings, and for other purposes, submitted by Mr.
      Rush\2\
    Letter of April 9, 2019, from David Bradley, Executive Director,
      National Community Action Foundation, to Mr. Rush and Mr.
      Upton, submitted by Mr. Rush...................................    46

    ----------

    \1\ Mr. Flores presented Mr. Walden's statement orally.
    \2\ The legislation has been retained in committee files and also is
    available at https://docs.house.gov/Committee/Calendar/
    ByEvent.aspx?EventID=109300.
    Letter of April 10, 2019, from Paula R. Glover, President and
      Chief Executive Officer, American Association of Blacks in
      Energy, to Mr. Rush and Mr. Upton, submitted by Mr. Rush.......    50
    Letter of April 8, 2019, from George H. Lowe, Vice President,
      Governmental Affairs and Public Policy, American Gas
      Association, to Mr. Rush, et al., submitted by Mr. Rush........    51
    Report of the Government Accountability Office, ``Recovery Act:
      Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Recipients Face
      Challenges Meeting Legislative and Program Goals and
      Requirements,'' April 2011, submitted by Mr. Rush\3\
    Technical comments on H.R. ___, Department of Energy, submitted
      by Mr. Rush....................................................    53
    Letter of April 10, 2019, from Bryan Howard, Legislative
      Director, U.S. Green Building Council, to Mr. Rush and Mr.
      Upton, submitted by Mr. Rush...................................    72
    Letter of February 26, 2019, from Abigail Ross Harper, President
      and Chief Executive Officer, Solar Energy Industry Association,
      to Mr. Pallone, et al., submitted by Mr. Rush..................    77
    Letter of February 26, 2019, from Joni Davis and Stan Sherrill,
      Vice Presidents, Duke Energy, to Mr. Rush, submitted by Mr.
      Rush...........................................................    79
    Letter of February 27, 2019, from Jason Hartke, President,
      Alliance to Save Energy, to Mr. Rush, submitted by Mr. Rush....    80
    Letter of April 9, 2019, from Randy Bennett, IL Weatherization,
      et al., to Mr. Pallone and Mr. Walden, submitted by Mr. Rush...    81
    Article of July 10, 2018, ``Pa. Auditor General: State failed to
      spend federal energy assistance funds meant to aid poor,'' by
      Kate Giammarise, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, submitted by Mr. Rush    89

    ----------

    \3\ The report has been retained in committee files and also is
    available at https://docs.house.gov/meetings/IF/IF03/20190410/109300/
    HHRG-116-IF03-20190410-SD989.pdf.

        INVESTING IN AMERICA'S ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE: IMPROVING ENERGY
                  EFFICIENCY AND CREATING A DIVERSE WORKFORCE

                                  ----------

                           WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2019

                      House of Representatives,
                                Subcommittee on Energy,
                              Committee on Energy and Commerce,
                                                        Washington, DC.
        The subcommittee met, pursuant to call, at 10:03 a.m., in
    the John D. Dingell Room 2123, Rayburn House Office Building,
    Hon. Bobby L. Rush (chairman of the subcommittee) presiding.
        Members present: Representatives Rush, Peters, Sarbanes,
    McNerney, Tonko, Loebsack, Schrader, Kennedy, Veasey, Kuster,
    Kelly, Barragan, O'Halleran, Blunt Rochester, Pallone (ex
    officio), Upton (subcommittee ranking member), Latta, Rodgers,
    McKinley, Griffith, Johnson, Bucshon, Flores, Hudson, Walberg,
    and Duncan.
        Staff present: Adam Fischer, Policy Analyst; Rick Kessler,
    Senior Advisor and Staff Director, Energy and Environment;
    Brendan Larkin, Policy Coordinator; John Marshall, Policy
    Coordinator; Elisabeth Olson, FERC Detailee; Tuley Wright,
    Energy and Environment Policy Advisor; Mary Martin, Minority
    Chief Counsel, Energy and Environment; Brandon Mooney, Minority
    Deputy Chief Counsel, Energy; Brannon Rains, Minority Staff
    Assistant; and Peter Spencer, Minority Senior Professional
    Staff Member, Energy and Environment.
        Mr. Rush. The committee hearing is called to order. And I
    recognize myself for 5 minutes for an opening statement.

     OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. BOBBY L. RUSH, A REPRESENTATIVE IN
                  CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF ILLINOIS

        I want to welcome everyone to today's hearing entitled
    ``Investing in America's Energy Infrastructure: Improving
    Energy Efficiency and Creating a Diverse Workforce.''
        This hearing will focus on a series of bills designed to
    make Americans' homes, businesses, and energy infrastructure
    more efficient and cost-effective, while also investing in a
    diverse workforce to build, operate, and manage this
    infrastructure.
        Unfortunately, our colleagues, our colleague Mr. Welch had
    to return to his home State of Vermont and will miss today's
    hearing. But as we all know, he has been a strong supporter of
    the HOMES Act and Smart Building Acceleration Act, and he sends
    his regrets in not being able to speak today on those two
    important measures.
        Most of today's bills enjoy bipartisan support. And I would
    like to thank Ranking Member Upton for working with my office
    in cosponsoring H.R. 2114, the Enhancing State Energy Security
    Planning and Emergency Preparedness Act. This bill would
    provide much-needed assistance to State Energy Offices to plan
    for and respond to energy disruptions from both physical and
    cyber threats. And I look forward to moving it forward.
        While I support each of the bills before us, I want to
    concentrate my remarks on H.R. 1315, the Blue to Green Collar
    Jobs Act, which continues to be one of my top priorities.
        H.R. 1315 is in essence a jobs bill designed to train
    underserved groups, including women, minorities, veterans,
    unemployed energy workers, and returning citizens, among
    others, for the energy jobs and energy careers in the present
    and the future.
        Today marks the second hearing on this important bill,
    providing an opportunity to hear directly from DOE, as my
    Republican colleagues have repeatedly requested. It is my hope
    that following this hearing the minority side will finally
    accept my repeated offer to work with my office on this bill as
    we move it through this legislative process.
        Despite their refusal to work with me following the first
    hearing on this bill, my office has made several changes to the
    bill to strengthen it and to make it much more inclusive.
        In addition to opening up the grant program for training in
    nuclear energy and carbon testing and storage, we have also
    clarified that grants and assistance would be made available to
    labor unions and qualified youth and conservation corps.
        We strengthened the reporting requirements and
    accountability measures for evaluating performance and impact,
    while also streamlining the definition for underrepresented
    groups through the bill, and adding language to prevent the
    duplication of programs at DOE.
        Relying on the technical assistance comments that we
    received from DOE from both the current and previous
    administrations, I am confident that the program established in
    H.R. 1315 will go a long way in producing actual results, in
    the form of jobs filled, rather than the ceaseless and
    nonsensical talk and planning that has too often been the norm.
        It is my hope that following today's hearing my Republican
    colleagues will finally agree to discuss actual substance with
    my office so we can move this much-needed bill forward.
        I look forward to hearing from today's panel of DOE
    officials on all of the bills before us here today. And I would
    like to call now on my good friend and colleague from my
    neighboring State of Michigan, Ranking Member Upton, for his
    opening statement.
        [The prepared statement of Mr. Rush follows:]

                    Prepared Statement of Hon. Bobby L. Rush

        I would like to welcome everyone to today's hearing
    entitled ``Investing in America's Energy Infrastructure:
    Improving Energy Efficiency and Creating a Diverse Workforce.''
        This hearing will focus on a series of bills designed to
    make Americans' homes, buildings and energy infrastructure more
    efficient and cost-effective, while also investing in a diverse
    workforce to build, operate, and manage this infrastructure.
        Unfortunately, our colleague Mr. Welch had to return to
    Vermont and will miss today's hearing, but as we all know he
    has been a strong supporter of the HOMES Act and Smart Building
    Acceleration Act and he regrets not being able to speak on
    those two measures today.
        Most of today's bill enjoy bipartisan support and I would
    like to thank Ranking Member Upton for working with my office
    in cosponsoring H.R. 2114, the Enhancing State Energy Security
    Planning and Emergency Preparedness Act.
        This bill would provide much-needed assistance to State
    Energy Offices to plan for and respond to energy disruptions
    from both physical and cyber threats, and I look forward to
    moving it forward.
        While I support each of the bills before us today, I want
    to concentrate my remarks on H.R. 1315, the Blue to Green
    Collar Jobs Act, which continues to be one of my top
    priorities.
        H.R. 1315 is a jobs bill designed to train underserved
    groups, including women, minorities, veterans, unemployed
    energy workers, and returning citizens, among others, for the
    energy jobs and careers of the present and future.
        Today marks the second hearing on this important bill,
    providing an opportunity to hear directly from DOE, as my
    Republican colleagues have requested.
        It is my hope that following this hearing, the minority
    side will finally accept my repeated offers to work with my
    office on this bill as we move it through the legislative
    process.
        Despite their refusal to work with me following the first
    hearing on this bill, my office has made several changes to the
    bill to strengthen it and make it more inclusive.
        In addition to opening up the grant program for training in
    nuclear energy and carbon capture and storage, we have also
    clarified that grants and assistance would be made available to
    labor unions and qualified youth and conservation corps.
        We strengthened the reporting requirements and
    accountability measures for evaluating performance and impact,
    while also streamlining the definition for underrepresented
    groups throughout the bill and adding language to prevent the
    duplication of programs at DOE.
        Relying on the technical assistance comments we received
    from DOE from both the current and previous administrations, I
    am confident that the program established in H.R. 1315 will go
    a long way in producing actual results, in the form of jobs
    filled, rather than the ceaseless talk and planning stages that
    has too often been the norm.
        It is my hope that following today's hearing my Republican
    colleagues will finally agree to discuss actual substance with
    my office so we can move this much-needed bill forward with
    bipartisan support.
        As we have heard time and time again in numerous hearings
    on this topic, there are tens of thousands of jobs available
    right now, today, and employers are begging for trained,
    qualified candidates to fill those openings.
        My office remains ready and willing to work with any Member
    to address any legitimate concerns that will ultimately help to
    put thousands of hardworking yet overlooked and underserved
    Americans back to work.
        I look forward to hearing from today's panel of DOE
    officials on all of the bills here before us, and now I would
    like to call on my friend and colleague, Ranking Member Upton
    for his opening statement.

       OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. FRED UPTON, A REPRESENTATIVE IN
                  CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF MICHIGAN

        Mr. Upton. Well, thank you, my friend and chairman, for
    holding this hearing on eight Department of Energy workforce
    and efficiency bills. I am pleased to see that our bill from
    the last Congress is included, H.R. 2144, the Enhancing State
    Energy Security Planning and Emergency Preparedness Act.
        You and I worked together on that bill. And it passed the
    House by a voice vote. Somehow we have to get it through the
    Senate. I look forward to seeing this bill get across the
    finish line in this Congress.
        As you know from our oversight work, our energy
    infrastructure is comprised of a vast network of energy and
    electricity delivery systems. These intricate and highly
    interdependent systems enable almost every aspect of our daily
    life. The Nation's economy, security, and the health and safety
    of its citizens depends upon the reliable and uninterrupted
    delivery of fuels and electricity, which is why it is so
    important to stay on top of maintenance and modernization.
        And at the same time, we have to also remain vigilant when
    it comes to energy security planning and emergency
    preparedness.
        Since the inception of the Department of Energy's State
    Energy Program in 1975, the manner in which energy and power is
    generated, transmitted and delivered continues to rapidly
    change and evolve. Recent hurricanes, fires, and cyber-related
    events have raised real concerns about the security and
    resiliency of the Nation's energy and electricity systems. And
    States have emphasized the need to prioritize energy security,
    energy planning, and energy infrastructure protection.
        H.R. 2144 will indeed modernize and reauthorize DOE's State
    Energy Program through 2025. It is a good bill that will help
    States with the tools to plan and prepare for energy security
    emergencies. I would encourage all of my colleagues to support
    it.
        We also have a couple over bipartisan bills from the last
    Congress: H.R. 2019, the Smart Energy and Water Efficiency Act;
    H.R. 2044, the Smart Building Acceleration Act. These bills
    will help save energy in public buildings and encourage the
    adoption of innovative technologies to conserve water in
    communities across the country. These are good bipartisan
    bills. I look forward to receiving input from DOE to further
    perfect them.
        Unfortunately, we have not had enough time to review some
    of the other bills before us today because they were introduced
    just this week, and we haven't had the opportunity for
    background hearings for understanding them. I am also troubled
    by the fact that the majority has not seemed to take an
    interest in our offer to make good the Workforce Bill
    bipartisan. As we have said, we should return to the original
    version that was agreed upon. I believe that we can improve the
    bill and it can pass again with unanimous consent if it were
    simply ``all of the above'' and inclusive of every
    underrepresented group, including women and veterans.
        Mr. Chairman, I know that we can return to regular order so
    that Members have the opportunity to make informed judgments
    about the need for legislation and the effect of these bills.
        I want to thank our two witnesses, Assistant Secretary
    Simmons and Dr. Campos, for appearing before us today so that
    we can learn about DOE's efforts on efficiency and workforce
    development, and determine whether additional legislative
    authorities are necessary. Given the price tag of these new
    bills and the tens of billions of dollars, we owe it to the
    taxpayers and the consumers to take our time to determine
    whether the spending is justified.
        I promise to keep an open mind. And as I have said before,
    we are ready to get to work if all of us are serious about the
    effort.
        I yield back.
        [The prepared statement of Mr. Upton follows:]

                     Prepared Statement of Hon. Fred Upton

        Thank you, Mr. Chairman for holding this hearing on eight
    Department of Energy workforce and efficiency bills. I am
    pleased to see that our bill from last Congress was included,
    H.R. 2144, the Enhancing State Energy Security Planning and
    Emergency Preparedness Act. You and I worked together on that
    bill, and it passed the House by voice vote. I look forward to
    seeing this bill get across the finish line this Congress.
        As we know from our oversight work, our energy
    infrastructure is comprised of a vast network of energy and
    electricity delivery systems. These intricate and highly
    interdependent systems enable almost every aspect of our daily
    lives. The Nation's economy, security, and the health and
    safety of its citizens depend upon the reliable and
    uninterrupted delivery of fuels and electricity, which is why
    it is so important to stay on top of maintenance and
    modernization. At the same time, we must also remain vigilant
    when it comes to energy security planning and emergency
    preparedness.
        Since the inception of the Department of Energy's State
    Energy Program in 1975, the manner in which energy and power is
    generated,transmitted, and delivered continues to rapidly
    change and evolve. Recent hurricanes, fires, and cyber-related
    events have raised concerns about the security and resiliency
    of the Nation's energy and electricity systems, and States have
    emphasized the need to prioritize energy security, emergency
    planning, and energy infrastructure protection.
        H.R. 2144 will modernize and reauthorize DOE's State Energy
    Program through 2025. It's a good bill that will help States
    with tools to plan and prepare for energy security emergencies.
    I encourage my colleagues to support.
        We also have a couple other bipartisan bills from last
    Congress, H.R. 2019, the Smart Energy and Water Efficiency Act;
    and, H.R. 2044, the Smart Building Acceleration Act. These
    bills will help save energy in public buildings and encourage
    the adoption of innovative technologies to conserve water in
    communities across the country. These are also good, bipartisan
    bills, and I look forward to receiving input from DOE to
    further perfect them.
        Unfortunately, we haven't had enough time to review some of
    the other bills before us today, because they were just
    introduced on Monday and we haven't had the opportunity for
    background hearings.
        I am also troubled by the fact that the Majority has not
    seemed to take interest in our offer to make the workforce bill
    bipartisan. As we have said, we should return to the original
    version that was agreed upon. I believe we could improve the
    bill and it could pass again with unanimous consent if it were
    simply ``all of the above'' and inclusive of all
    underrepresented groups, including women and veterans.
        Mr. Chairman, I hope we can return to regular order so that
    Members have the opportunity to make informed judgements about
    the need for legislation and the effect of these bills.
        I would like to thank our DOE witnesses, Assistant
    Secretary Daniel Simmons and Mr. James Campos, for appearing
    before us today so that we can learn about DOE's efforts on
    efficiency and workforce development and determine whether
    additional legislative authorities are necessary. Given the
    price tag of these new bills is in the tens of billions of
    dollars, we owe it to our taxpayers and to consumers to take
    our time and determine whether the spending is justified.
        I'll keep an open mind, and as I've said before, we are
    ready to get to work if the Democrats are serious about this
    effort. It is disappointing that we're starting this way with
    some of these bills, but I hope things will improve if we can
    get a commitment to return to regular order.
        Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I yield back.

        Mr. Rush. The gentleman yields back.
        The Chair now recognizes Mr. Pallone, the chairman of the
    full committee, for 5 minutes for his opening statement.

    OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. FRANK PALLONE, Jr., A REPRESENTATIVE
                IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY

        Mr. Pallone. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
        Today we are here to discuss legislation that invests in
    making our Nation's infrastructure more energy efficient. This
    important investment will create good-paying jobs, save
    consumers money, and help us combat climate change by reducing
    carbon pollution.
        Countries across the globe are investing in energy
    efficiency, and it is making a difference. According to the
    International Energy Agency, the world would have used 12
    percent more energy in 2016 had it not been for efficiency
    gains achieved since 2000. And that is comparable to adding
    another European Union to the global energy market.
        A critical piece of infrastructure includes making homes,
    buildings, cities, and manufacturing facilities more energy
    efficient. Efficiency work supports thousands of good-paying
    jobs at small businesses in every State. And weatherizing homes
    or retrofitting public buildings saves money and supports our
    efforts to address climate change.
        The eight bills before us will increase energy efficiency,
    develop a modern energy workforce, and strengthen energy
    security.
        H.R. 2043, the Home Owner Managing Energy Savings, or HOMES
    Act, introduced by Representatives Welch and McKinley, provides
    cash rebates of up to $5,000 to homeowners for performing
    retrofits that achieve home energy savings.
        H.R. 2041, introduced by Representative Tonko, Chairman
    Rush, and Representative Kaptur, would also help homeowners
    save money and create jobs. This bill increased funding for the
    Department of Energy's Weatherization Assistance Program to
    $350 million annually and modernizes the program.
        This technology can also be a driver for increased energy
    efficiency. And Representatives McNerney, Welch, and Kinzinger
    have introduced bills that analyze and support new technologies
    in smart buildings and water systems.
        The subcommittee will also review two bills that
    reauthorize grant programs to assist States and local
    governments in making public infrastructure more energy
    efficient. Representatives Stanton and Veasey introduced H.R.
    2088, which increases funding for the Energy Efficiency and
    Conservation Block Grant Program. This program provides grants
    to States and local communities to assist their efforts to
    reduce fossil fuel emissions and conserve energy. And this is
    something that has been a priority for mayors and local elected
    officials around the country, in large part because it funds
    infrastructure that will save those communities money.
        Similarly, H.R. 2119, introduced by Representative Kelly,
    increases funding for DOE grants to improve the efficiency of
    public buildings. Both programs provide critical support to
    local communities that often lack the resources to take on
    large scale public efficiency-related projects.
        We should also look at investing in the skilled workers who
    manufacture equipment and build and operate plants. Chairman
    Rush's Blue Collar to Green Collar Jobs Development Act
    established a comprehensive, nationwide program at DOE to
    improve education and training for jobs in energy-related
    industries.
        And, finally, we have H.R. 2114, the Enhancing State Energy
    Security Planning and Emergency Preparedness Act, introduced by
    Chairman Rush and Ranking Member Upton. Obviously, this bill is
    bipartisan and reauthorizes the State Energy Program at $90
    million per year and allows States to use the funds to
    implement a State Energy Security Plan. The bill passed the
    House by a voice vote during the last Congress, and I am
    hopeful that we can get it to the President's desk before the
    end of this Congress.
        So, again, this is a legislative hearing on these bills. We
    would like to move these bills. I want to commend the sponsors
    for their work on these important issues, and thank Mr. Simmons
    for appearing before the committee for the second time this
    year.
        And I yield back.
        [The prepared statement of Mr. Pallone follows:]

                 Prepared Statement of Hon. Frank Pallone, Jr.

        Today, we're here to discuss legislation that invests in
    making our Nation's infrastructure more energy efficient. This
    important investment will create good paying jobs, save
    consumers money and help us combat climate change by reducing
    carbon pollution.
        Countries across the globe are investing in energy
    efficiency, and it's making a difference. According to the
    International Energy Agency, the world would have used 12
    percent more energy in 2016 had it not been for efficiency
    gains achieved since 2000. That's comparable to adding another
    European Union to the global energy market.
        A critical piece of infrastructure includes making homes,
    buildings, cities and manufacturing facilities more energy
    efficient. Efficiency work supports thousands of good-paying
    jobs at small businesses in every State. And, weatherizing
    homes or retrofitting public buildings saves money and supports
    our efforts to address climate change.
        The eight bills before us will increase energy efficiency,
    develop a modern energy workforce and strengthen energy
    security.
        H.R. 2043, the Home Owner Managing Energy Savings (HOMES)
    Act of 2019, introduced by Reps. Welch and McKinley, provides
    cash rebates of up to $5,000 to homeowners for performing
    retrofits that achieve home energy savings.
        H.R. 2041, introduced by Rep. Tonko, Chairman Rush and Rep.
    Kaptur, would also help homeowners save money and create jobs.
    This bill increases funding for the Department of Energy's
    (DOE) Weatherization Assistance Program to $350 million
    annually and modernizes the program.
        Technology can also be a driver for increased energy
    efficiency, and Reps. McNerney, Welch and Kinzinger have
    introduced bills that analyze and support new technologies in
    smart buildings and water systems.
        The subcommittee will also review two bills that
    reauthorize grant programs to assist States and local
    governments in making public infrastructure more energy
    efficient. Reps. Stanton and Veasey introduced H.R. 2088, which
    increases funding for the Energy Efficiency and Conservation
    Block Grant Program. This program provides grants to States and
    local communities to assist their efforts to reduce fossil fuel
    emissions and conserve energy. This is something that has been
    a priority for mayors and local elected officials around the
    country, in large part because it funds infrastructure that
    will save communities money.
        Similarly, H.R. 2119, introduced by Rep. Kelly, increases
    funding for DOE grants to improve the efficiency of public
    buildings.
        Both programs provide critical support to local communities
    that often lack the resources to take on large scale public
    efficiency-related projects.
        We should also look at investing in the skilled workers who
    manufacture equipment and build and operate plants. Chairman
    Rush's Blue Collar to Green Collar Jobs Development Act
    establishes a comprehensive, nationwide program at DOE to
    improve education and training for jobs in energy-related
    industries.
        Finally, we have H.R. 2114, the Enhancing State Energy
    Security Planning and Emergency Preparedness Act, introduced by
    Chairman Rush and Ranking Member Upton. This bill reauthorizes
    the State Energy Program at $90 million per year and allows
    States to use the funds to implement a State Energy Security
    Plan. The bill passed the House by voice vote during the last
    Congress and I'm hopeful we can get it to the President's desk
    before the end of this one.
        I commend the bill sponsors for their work on these
    important issues and thank Mr. Simmons for appearing before the
    committee for the second time this year. I yield back the
    balance of my time.

        Mr. Sarbanes. Will the gentleman yield the balance?
        Mr. Pallone. Oh, I'm sorry. I yield to the gentleman from
    Maryland.
        Mr. Sarbanes. Yes. I appreciate that. I just wanted to echo
    your comments and say that we have a lot of very strong
    proposals here in terms of energy efficiency.
        I want to thank Congressman Rush in particular for the Blue
    Collar to Green Collar Jobs Employment Act. In Baltimore,
    Baltimore City and a number of partners, including originally
    the Department of Energy here under the Obama administration,
    but also foundations, and businesses, and workforce development
    groups have put forth an initiative called Baltimore Shines,
    which is to install solar panels on the homes of low-income and
    moderate-income residents in Baltimore City so there is a
    positive impact on the bottom line in terms of their utility
    costs, reducing their utility costs. Also, obviously, helping
    reduce the carbon footprint when it comes to the environment
    and making sure we are doing the right thing.
        But, also, a pipeline, as was alluded to, generally a
    pipeline for the workforce to move to green-collar jobs, which
    can really establish somebody and put them on a path to
    sufficiency. So, I thank you for those bills. And thank you,
    Congressman Rush, for your proposal.
        I yield back to Congressman Pallone.
        Mr. Pallone. I thank the gentleman. I yield back, Mr.
    Chairman.
        Mr. Rush. The Chair also thanks the gentleman for his kind
    remarks.
        The Chair now recognizes Mr. Flores, who is speaking for
    the ranking member, Mr. Walden, who is not present. The Chair
    recognizes Mr. Flores to read Mr. Walden's statement for 5
    minutes.
        [Whereupon Mr. Flores read from Mr. Walden's statement.]

      OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. GREG WALDEN, A REPRESENTATIVE IN
                   CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF OREGON

        Mr. Flores. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for holding this
    hearing to continue our oversight of the Department of Energy's
    Energy Efficiency and Workforce Development Programs.
        I would also like to thank our DOE witnesses, Assistant
    Secretary Daniel Simmons and Mr. James Campos, for appearing
    before us today. Daniel actually testified at our last
    subcommittee hearing, so we welcome you back for another round
    of questioning. I hope you feel the same.
        Before I get into the substance of the eight bills before
    us today I need to make a point about the regular order and
    process. As yet another week goes by without a single
    substantive legislative accomplishments, the Democrats are
    still struggling with the basic principle of regular order. We
    are familiar with three of the bills before us today from last
    Congress, and they are bipartisan. And that is we are
    appreciative of that.
        The rest of these bills, unfortunately, have just been
    jammed through without regular order. In fact, some of them
    were just introduced on Monday so that they could be squeezed
    into this hearing. There were no background hearings held to
    establish the nature of the legislation. There was no technical
    assistance sought from the Department of Energy. There were no
    Republicans included in the drafting process at all. This is
    not regular order, and it is certainly not a process that the
    Democrats should be proud of.
        The estimated price tag for all eight bills is a staggering
    $26 billion. This includes more than a half-billion dollars for
    a green-collar jobs program; $15 million for a new energy and
    water efficiency pilot program; another half-billion dollars
    for energy-efficient public buildings; $1.8 billion for
    weatherization assistance; $1.3 billion for a new home energy
    savings retrofit rebate program; and last but not least, an
    astounding $21 billion for energy efficiency block grants.
        Mr. Chairman, we owe it to our constituents and to
    consumers across the country to give this a much more serious
    effort. Rather than rushing to authorize tens of billions of
    dollars of additional spending, we should have real oversight
    hearings to better understand the needs and to discover that
    there are gaps that require Congress to provide DOE with
    additional statutory authorities. With all of these new grant
    programs for efficiency, we have no idea if they are actually
    necessary, or if they are duplicative, or if they are in
    conflict with other existing programs.
        Since several of these bills do provide grants to State and
    local governments, members of this subcommittee should hear
    from those State and local governments directly to identify
    gaps and see how the Federal Government can better support
    their efforts on energy efficiency and workforce development.
        Also, since several of these bills revive expired programs,
    we should get our lessons learned from past experiences before
    determining whether programs should be reauthorized and, if so,
    how much we should spend. Unfortunately, at the rate we are
    going we are not going to get the opportunity to explore these
    issues more deeply. As a result, we are going to have partisan
    bills that pick winners and losers and reward special interests
    over consumers and over taxpayers.
        Worse yet, we are going to repeat the mistakes of the past
    by doubling down on failed efforts from President Obama's Green
    Jobs Program. Republicans are focused on real solutions to
    encourage energy efficiency and workforce development. We
    should not be wasting our time reviving old, expired efficiency
    programs, some of which have not received funding in years.
        We are ready to work when Democrats are willing to reach
    across the aisle and to make a serious effort. I am
    disappointed that we are starting off this way, but I continue
    to remain hopeful that we can get back on track.
        With that, thank you for holding this hearing, and I yield
    back the balance of my time.

                     Prepared Statement of Hon. Greg Walden

        Thank you, Mr. Chairman for holding this hearing to
    continue our oversight of the Department of Energy's energy
    efficiency and workforce development programs.
        I would also like to thank our DOE witnesses, Assistant
    Secretary Daniel Simmons and Mr. James Campos, for appearing
    before us today. Daniel actually testified at our last
    subcommittee hearing, so we welcome him back for another round
    of questioning.
        Before I get into the substance of the eight bills before
    us today, I need to make a point about regular order and
    process. As yet another week goes by without a single
    substantive legislative accomplishment, the Democrats are still
    struggling with the basic principle of regular order.
        We are familiar with three of the bills before us today
    from last Congress, and they are bipartisan. The rest of these
    bills have been jammed through without regular order. In fact,
    some of them were just introduced on Monday so they could be
    squeezed into this hearing.
        There was no technical assistance sought from the
    Department of Energy. There were no Republicans included in the
    drafting process at all. This is not regular order, and it is
    certainly not a process that Democrats should be proud of.
        The estimated price tag for all eight bills is a staggering
    $26 billion. This includes more than $500 million for a green-
    collar jobs training program; $15 million for a new energy and
    water efficiency pilot program; $500 million for energy
    efficient public buildings; $1.75 billion for the
    weatherization assistance program; $1.25 billion for a new home
    energy savings retrofit rebate program; and, last but not
    least, an astounding $21 billion for energy efficiency block
    grants.
        Mr. Chairman, we owe it to our constituents and to
    consumers across the country to give this a more serious
    effort. Rather than rushing to authorize tens of billions of
    dollars in additional spending, we should have real oversight
    hearings to better understand the needs, and to discover if
    there are gaps that require Congress to provide DOE with
    additional statutory authorities. With all of these new grant
    programs for efficiency, we have no idea if they are actually
    necessary or even if they are duplicative of other existing
    programs.
        Since several of these bills provide grants to State and
    local governments, members of the subcommittee should hear from
    them directly to identify gaps and see how the Federal
    Government can better support their efforts on energy
    efficiency and workforce development. And since several of
    these bills revive expired programs, we should gather lessons
    learned from past experiences, before determining whether the
    programs should be reauthorized, and if so, how much we should
    spend.
        Unfortunately, at the rate we are going, we are not going
    to get the opportunity to explore these issues more deeply. As
    a result, we are going to have partisan bills that pick winners
    and losers and reward special interests over consumers. Worse
    yet, we are going to repeat the mistakes of the past by
    doubling down on failed efforts from President Obama's Green
    Jobs program.
        Republicans are focused on solutions to encourage energy
    efficiency and workforce development. We should not be wasting
    our time reviving old, expired efficiency programs--some of
    which have not received funding in years.
        We are ready to get to work when the Democrats are willing
    to reach across the aisle and make a serious effort. I am
    disappointed that we're starting off this way, but I continue
    to remain hopeful that we can get back on track.
        With that, thank you for holding this hearing, and I yield
    back the balance of my time.

        Mr. Rush. The gentleman yields back.
        I want to respond, but the chairman of the full committee
    has prevailed upon me to just ignore the comments and continue
    with the hearing. So wisdom has prevailed, and I am not going
    to respond to the other side's comments.
        So, now we will recognize our witnesses. Our first witness
    today before us is the Honorable Daniel Simmons. He is the
    Assistant Secretary of the Office of Energy Efficiency and
    Renewable Energy at the Department of Energy. And the Honorable
    Mr. James Campos, the Director of the Office of Economic Impact
    and Diversity at the Department of Energy.
        And we want to welcome Assistant Secretary Simmons back to
    the committee, and thank both he and Director Campos for
    joining us today. And we look forward to your testimony.
        Now, the chairman will now recognize each witness for 5
    minutes to provide their opening statement. Before we begin, I
    would like to explain the lighting system to our witnesses.
        In front of you, if you are not aware of this, there is a
    series of lights. The light will initially be green at the
    start of your opening statement. The light will turn yellow
    when you have 1 minute remaining on your opening statement.
    Please at that time begin to wrap up your testimony. The light
    will turn red when your time expires.
        Secretary Simmons, right now you are recognized for 5
    minutes.

    STATEMENTS OF DANIEL R. SIMMONS, ASSISTANT SECRETARY, OFFICE OF
     ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND RENEWABLE ENERGY, DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY;
     AND JAMES E. CAMPOS, DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF ECONOMIC IMPACT AND
                    DIVERSITY, DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

                     STATEMENT OF DANIEL R. SIMMONS

        Mr. Simmons. Thank you, Chairman Rush, Chairman Pallone,
    Ranking Member Upton, and members of the subcommittee. Thank
    you for the opportunity to testify on behalf of the Department
    of Energy regarding a number of bills addressing energy
    efficiency issues that are being considered by this committee.
        One of my top priorities in the Office of Energy Efficiency
    and Renewable Energy is energy affordability, and cost-
    effective energy efficiency is an important aspect of overall
    energy affordability. The United States' approximately 125
    million homes and commercial buildings are the single largest
    energy consuming sector in the United States, consuming 74
    percent of the Nation's energy use, and over 80 percent at
    periods of peak demand. There are obviously opportunities for
    cost-effective energy efficiency improvements in this sector.
        Today I would like to share some of the relevant work my
    office has done and is doing on the areas that these bills
    address.
        The HOMES Act would create a program through the Department
    of Energy to provide rebates to homeowners for achieving home
    energy savings. Residential buildings use an estimated 21
    percent of all energy used in the United States. And 55 percent
    of the Nation's 118 million homes were built before 1980,
    meaning that there is a lot of opportunity for energy-efficient
    retrofits.
        In EERE we are initiating research to develop better
    solutions for achieving cost-effective energy efficiency
    savings through advancements in building construction
    technologies, less intrusive installation methods, and more
    effective integrated envelope and heating/cooling technologies.
    To me this is somewhat personal in that, as someone who lives
    in a home built in 1948, it is something I think about a lot,
    especially when staff comes and talks about building
    technologies.
        So there are definitely opportunities in terms of energy-
    efficient retrofits.
        We also implement a variety of programs that promote
    residential energy efficiency, including the Home Performance
    with Energy Star Program, which works with EPA and local
    sponsors. So far, the Home Performance with Energy Star Program
    partners have reported completing improvements to nearly
    700,000 homes.
        Additionally, EERE's Weatherization Assistance Program
    developed and maintains foundational workforce training and
    certification programs to ensure the work is performed in
    residential weatherization retrofits for low-income homes.
        The Smart Building Acceleration Act would take a number of
    actions related to evaluating and advancing the current state
    of ``smart buildings'' in the private and Federal sectors.
    Because buildings consume 74 percent of electricity generation,
    the Building Technology Office is working with National Labs,
    private sector partners, and others to examine grid flexibility
    to greater and better building control and communication
    technology.
        We believe there is an opportunity through smart building
    technology to improve energy integration and storage options
    for both building owners and grid operators. We also recognize
    the importance of cyber security being built in from the very
    beginning of these projects.
        Also, I should note that EERE's Federal Energy Management
    Program works closely with other Federal agencies to improve
    the energy efficiency and smartness of Federal buildings.
        The Weatherization Enhancement and Local Energy Efficiency
    Investment and Accountability Act would reauthorize the
    Weatherization Assistance Program through 2024. The President's
    budget requests no funding for the weatherization, for WAP and
    the State Energy Program. DOE understands the congressional
    interest in these programs and will continue to manage them
    consistent with statute.
        The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Bill
    expands the purpose of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation
    Block Grant Program to include diversifying energy supplies,
    including facilitating and promoting the use of alternative
    fuels, and reauthorizes the program at $3.5 billion annually
    from 2020 through 2025.
        The Improving Energy Efficiency in Public Buildings Bill
    would authorize grants for improving energy efficiency in
    public buildings at $100 million annually from 2021 to 2025.
        The Smart Energy and Water Efficiency Act would award
    grants to eligible entities to demonstrate advanced and
    innovative technology-based solutions to improve the energy
    efficiency of water, wastewater, and water reuse systems.
        DOE is implementing a number of initiatives to promote
    affordable, efficient, and secure water supplies. One effort is
    the Water Security Grand Challenge focusing on improving
    desalination; produced water from oil and gas as well as some
    nuclear mining; resource recovery from wastewater; the use of
    cooling-reducing the use of cooling water at thermoelectric
    plants; and improving small modular energy systems, energy-
    water systems for urban, rural, Tribal, national security, and
    disaster response settings.
        The Advanced Manufacturing Office works with water
    utilities and other industrial partners to improve their energy
    and water efficiency through efforts such as the voluntary
    recognition program Better Plants--or Better Buildings, Better
    Plants.
        Also, EERE's Weatherization Intergovernmental Program
    Office provides technical assistance that focuses specifically
    on the efficiency of wastewater treatment facilities, including
    WIP's Sustainable Wastewater Infrastructure of the Future
    Accelerator.
        Mr. Rush. Mr. Secretary, will you bring your remarks to the
    end.
        Mr. Simmons. This is it. This is the last line.
        Thank you for the opportunity to appear before the
    subcommittee and discuss these important energy efficiency
    issues. I look forward to your questions.
        [The prepared statement of Mr. Simmons follows:]
        [GRAPHICS NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

        Mr. Rush. Good timing.
        The Chair now recognizes Mr. Campos for 5 minutes for his
    opening, of an opening statement.

                      STATEMENT OF JAMES E. CAMPOS

        Mr. Campos. Thank you. Chairman Rush, Ranking Member Upton,
    and members of the subcommittee, it is a privilege and honor to
    serve at the Department of Energy, an agency tasked with, among
    other important responsibilities, managing the Department's 17
    National Laboratories, supporting early-stage energy R&D across
    a wide range of science and engineering disciplines, managing
    the Nation's nuclear weapons, and working effectively with
    States on our Nation's energy challenges.
        Thank you for the opportunity to testify today on behalf of
    the Department regarding legislation pertinent to the DOE.
        ED's mission is broad and diverse, with a number of
    programs and initiatives that focus on meeting its statutory
    obligations and enhancing the value of DOE's mission. ED's
    programs and initiatives are focused on businesses and
    education to establish critical linkages among minority-serving
    institutions, minority businesses, and Federal agencies to
    address economic development in underserved communities, and to
    support energy workforce development.
        ED is committed to increasing efforts for supporting
    greater inclusion of underserved minority populations--African
    American, Hispanic, Native American, Asian American and Pacific
    Islander, Puerto Rican, and Alaska Native--including women,
    veterans, and formerly incarcerated persons, into science,
    technology, engineering, mathematic fields, and energy-related
    industries.
        As Deputy Secretary Brouillette assured the chairman during
    his hearing before this committee in January of 2018, ED has
    recently reinvigorated the Minorities in Energy Initiative, now
    being called Equity in Energy. The program is twofold, with
    external and internal engagements.
        For external engagement, ED is conducting listening
    sessions across the country with underrepresented groups to
    share insights and ideas to increase minority representation in
    the energy sector. And share ideas to increase minority
    representation, sorry, in the energy sector. For internal
    engagement, ED is working with all of the Department's program
    offices and the National Laboratories to bring awareness to
    these issues and address potential solutions. The Equity in
    Energy initiative focuses on STEM aptitude, supplier diversity,
    technical assistance, and workforce development.
        ED also administers the Minority Educational Institution
    Student Partnership Program, MEISPP, which provides students
    with summer internships at the DC headquarters and the 17
    National Labs. Since 2005, over 650 interns from minority-
    serving educational institutions have participated in the
    program.
        DOE has provided over $700 million to support Historically
    Black Colleges and Universities, HBCUs, and other minority-
    serving institutions through research and development programs.
    In fact, my office was able to partner with and provide
    financial assistance to several HBCUs and MSIs this year to
    promote STEM and energy-related fields. To further these
    efforts, ED is working to release a Funding Opportunity
    Announcement this fiscal year.
        Additionally, I am the Department's White House Initiative
    designee to Promote Excellence and Innovation at HBCUs. In this
    role, I lead the Economic Development and Competitiveness
    cluster, and collaborate with the Departments of Treasury,
    Housing and Urban Development, Education, Commerce,
    Agriculture, as well as the Small Business Administration. The
    cluster aims to engage the Nation's HBCUs to develop workforce
    and community investments partnerships.
        With respect to this proposed legislation, please note that
    the Department has provided the committee with technical
    assistance in reviewing the bill, and will continue to work
    with the committee as the legislation being discussed today is
    advanced.
        Thank you again for this opportunity to be here today. It
    is an honor and privilege to served in this capacity. The
    Department appreciates the ongoing bipartisan efforts,
    bipartisan efforts to address our Nation's energy challenges.
    And I look forward to addressing any questions.
        [The prepared statement of Mr. Campos follows:]
        [GRAPHICS NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

        Mr. Rush. I want to thank the gentleman. Want to thank all
    of our witnesses.
        Members, we have a vote on the floor. It has been called.
    And it is my intention to recess the subcommittee until
    immediately after the vote.
        So, at this point in time I am going to ask our witnesses
    if they would remain with us. We should be about 25 minutes to
    an hour. So, we will reconvene immediately after the last vote.
        Thank you. And the subcommittee stands recessed.
        [Recess.]
        Mr. Rush. We have concluded with the opening statements,
    and now we will move to Members' questioning. Each Member will
    have 5 minutes to ask questions of the witnesses. And I will
    start by recognizing myself for 5 minutes.
        Director Campos, as you know, the issue of increasing
    opportunities for minorities and other underserved groups is
    very important to me. It is an issue that I have devoted my
    entire career in public service to, and it is one that I
    continue to hold on as a top priority as chairman of this
    subcommittee. That's the reason why I worked so closely with
    Secretary Moniz in the previous administration on increasing
    the Minorities in Energy Initiative and why I reintroduced my
    workforce bill.
        And I understand that every President has the prerogative
    to focus on their own priorities. And we all certainly
    understand that the current President feels a certain way about
    minorities and about diversity. It is his prerogative to feel
    no matter which he feels. However, the point of both the
    Minorities in Energy Initiative as well as my workforce bill is
    that it really shouldn't matter who is in the White House, that
    the agency, DOE, has the affirmative responsibility to work on
    increasing opportunities for all.
        DOE is one of the largest agencies in the Federal
    Government. And it receives more taxpayer funding, $30 billion
    of taxpayers' money, than any department outside of the
    Pentagon. It should be the agency that is the forefront of all
    the agencies to create opportunity and to use its resources to
    benefit all Americans, not simply the ones who are already a
    part of the GOB, the Good Ol' Boys network, but all Americans.
    DOE controls billions of taxpayer dollars in contracts, loan
    guarantees, and funding to schools.
        Yet, in each and every meeting I have held with agency
    officials, whether discussing overall contracting dollars or
    funding through the minority service institutions, or minority
    contracting as part of the Federal Energy Management Program,
    FEMP, or lending opportunities with the 17 National
    Laboratories of our Nation, it is really disheartening to me to
    hear the same exact excuse: ``Chairman Rush, Ranking Member
    Rush, the numbers''--I am quoting them now--``the numbers are
    not as good as they should be. We need to do more.'' End of
    quote.
        Director Campos, while I appreciate your traveling around
    on, quote, ``listening tours,'' end of quote, my objective is
    to get beyond the talking and the planning stages and to offer
    concrete and practical policy and procedures that will help
    benefit all segments of our population. Previously under
    Department of Energy regulations, the d-e-a-r, DEAR, there were
    diversity calls that govern all contracting, including
    management and operating, or M&O, contracting. This would
    require a diversity plan that includes educational outreach,
    community outreach, and economic development opportunity
    through technology transfer with the Labs. The purpose of the
    diversity plan was to encourage and foster relationships with
    minority-serving institutions, and to develop continued
    partnerships with professional and scientific organizations to
    promote careers in STEM education.
        The objective of these plans was to create minority
    participation in contracting and subcontracting opportunities,
    research and development partnerships, and regular protege
    responsive relationships, all of which are essential to the
    objectives of H.R. 1315.
        Director Campos, I am not going to ask you if your office
    is working on any type of plan like this because we both
    already know the answer. But I will be submitting some
    questions for the record to your Department. And I will also
    will be bringing up this issue when Secretary Perry comes
    before this subcommittee next month to discuss DOE's budget.
    Let's get to work, Director Campos, on these issues so that we
    can start enacting serious proposals such as my workforce bill
    in order to address some of the disparities in how the agency
    does that business.
        With that, I yield back. And now I recognize my good
    friend, the ranking member of the subcommittee, Mr. Upton, for
    5 minutes for the purpose of asking questions of our witnesses.
        Mr. Upton. Thank you, my friend. And, Chairman, as I said
    in my opening statement, we do have a number of concerns,
    particularly as we look at the total price tag of nearly $26
    billion. That ought to get everybody's attention. And as I
    said, a couple of the bills were introduced just in the last
    couple days, as recently as Monday.
        I have just a couple of questions. And would just note that
    we just finished votes on the House floor. We have another
    subcommittee that is working. We have Members on both. And we,
    because of the Democratic retreat, we have no more votes the
    balance of the week, so folks are off to the races in a variety
    of ways.
        Has the Department been asked for their input, and have you
    supplied any technical assistance, TA, for any of these bills?
        Mr. Simmons. We have been asked for, for technical
    assistance on Representative Tonko's bill. I don't know if we
    have the--we have not given that assistance back. I believe
    there was a new version of that bill earlier this week.
        Mr. Upton. In the case of the workforce bill, which I
    understand you also submitted technical assistance, has there
    been any response back to concerns that you might have raised
    to comments?
        Mr. Simmons. I am not sure.
        Mr. Upton. That you are aware of?
        Mr. Simmons. Not that I am aware of. But I am not sure
    where we are in that process.
        Mr. Upton. Will you commit to working with us to provide a
    full audit of the workforce activities before the, hopefully,
    before the bill moves forward?
        Mr. Simmons. Sure thing.
        Mr. Upton. And in the case of the reauthorization of
    expired programs, can you commit to providing any and all
    reports and materials related to those programs before these
    bills hopefully move forward as well?
        Mr. Simmons. Yes.
        Mr. Upton. I would also note that I understand DOE's
    position on the State Energy Program. The administration budget
    request I think was zero for the funds or for the program.
    Despite the expired program, I know that we in the Congress,
    and the President signed $55 million for fiscal year 2019 for
    the State Energy Programs, in large part because the States do
    ask for it.
        Do you have any sense in terms of where, can you help us?
    If Congress provides the money again are you going to be able
    to help us?
        Mr. Simmons. Without a doubt. We will execute on those
    monies as quickly as we can.
        Mr. Upton. And I guess the last question that I have is DOE
    does have an important role to provide technical systems in
    coordination to support the States in their efforts to plan and
    respond to emergencies, especially if there are impacts to
    energy supplies. We have this terrible storm hitting the
    Midwest right now and coming this way. Hurricane season, you
    know, never goes away. What can we do to strengthen DOE's
    ability to protect the Nation's energy supplies during these
    emergencies?
        This morning on some of the national news they talked about
    perhaps widespread power outages that are going to impact the
    Plains and some of the Midwest with the storm that is coming
    through. What more can we do as we try to work in a bipartisan
    basis to help strengthen the States' roles to prepare for these
    emergencies?
        Mr. Simmons. I don't have a, I don't have some great
    answers for that. However, the two offices that are really
    focused on those activities is the Office of Electricity, as
    well as the Office of Cyber Security, Energy Security, and
    Emergency Response.
        Assistant Secretary Walker and Evans are very much focused
    on those activities and making sure that the grid is more, can
    become more resilient. And especially focusing on kind of some
    of the knock-on effects once there is one problem,
    understanding the entire system so that we can have an energy
    system that is, that is more resilient and that is hardened
    from what it is today.
        So, we are, especially in QFRs, but I know that those
    offices would be happy to talk with the committee at any time
    to provide comments.
        Mr. Upton. Maybe one last question. As you look at the 50
    States and the territories, is there any State that really
    stands above others, and is there any State or territory that
    really needs some help?
        Mr. Simmons. I don't have a good comment on that. But I
    will take that back and find out and find some good examples.
        Mr. Upton. I would just note that we have Members from, you
    know, a lot of States here on this committee I know that we
    would like to help, particularly as it impacts those
    constituents wherever they may be. And I would again commend
    Chairman Rush and others, a couple years ago a number of us
    went down to Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands to see what
    happened because of the terrible hurricane there.
        So, with that, I yield back. Thank you.
        Mr. Rush. I thank the gentleman.
        Now the Chair recognizes Mr. O'Halleran from Arizona for 5
    minutes.
        Mr. O'Halleran. Thank you, Mr. Chairman and Ranking Member
    Upton, for convening today's important legislative hearing on
    energy efficiency legislation. It could not be more timely.
        Deploying energy efficiency technologies and supporting
    such programs is critical to conserving our precious energy
    resources, and essential to bringing real cost savings to
    Arizonans and Americans throughout my district.
        As Arizona continues to find ways to integrate wind, hydro,
    and solar energy into our grid, I look forward to introducing
    legislation in this Congress to help our electrical grid make
    more resilient and efficient. For a recent southwest energy
    efficiency project study, Arizona has an energy savings of 21
    percent, and potential water savings of 4.1 billion gallons per
    year if certain efficiency programs are in place.
        Mr. Campos, in your testimony you highlighted the Equity in
    Energy initiative you run within the DOE to promote ethnic
    representations in the workforce. Could you provide a quick
    update on the listening sessions your office has had with
    Tribal communities?
        Mr. Campos. Sure, Congressman. Thank you.
        We have just started this initiative about 3 months ago.
    And one of our first active listening sessions we did a
    conference called RES which deals with most of the Native
    American Tribes across the Nation. It was a productive session.
    And we, we sat there and listening on areas of STEM aptitude
    and supplier diversity. And it went well.
        What we are doing now is compiling all the information,
    visiting other States, also doing events in Tulsa with Native
    Americans, and figuring out what is their exact part within
    this process and how we can progress forward in a both
    efficient and sustainable manner.
        Mr. O'Halleran. I would suggest that you come to Arizona.
    We have a large number of Tribes there. The Navajo Nation is
    the largest Tribal Nation in this country and within my
    district, and we do have some unique problems there. So, thank
    you for your answer.
        As we discussed back in February, I believe the Blue Collar
    and Green Jobs Act has the potential to help increase and
    diversify our energy workforce by providing funding for
    transmitting energy workers--transitioning energy workers to
    learn new energy-efficient trades. How would H.R. 1315 help
    Native Americans increase their representation in the energy
    efficiency workforce? Mr. Campos?
        Mr. Campos. Thank you, Congressman. Any assistance within
    the workforce development range helps out all the minority
    sectors across the country, be it Native Americans, African
    Americans, Hispanics, Asian Americans. So, the resources will
    be put forth equally and distributed in a manner in which is
    appropriate.
        Mr. O'Halleran. As you know, my district is home to coal
    generation power plants, including the Navajo Generation
    Station. Recognizing the many challenges coal-fired power
    plants are facing across the country and remaining open, I have
    a keen interest in the economic and societal impacts coal plant
    closures have on local communities.
        Mr. Campos, does DOE use Section 201 of H.R. 1315 in its
    ability to help displaced coal workers transition to new energy
    efficiency jobs with good living wages?
        Mr. Campos. Congressman, that is probably a question I will
    have to get back to you on to make sure that I am giving the
    right information.
        Mr. O'Halleran. Mr. Simmons, I would like to ask you about
    H.R. 2114, the Enhancing State Energy Security Planning and
    Energy Preparedness Act of 2019. In the last month there have
    been some documented fuel shortages in Central Arizona causing
    a 30 cent per gallon increase at the pump. Would this
    legislation help States develop State Energy Security Plans to
    prevent future lapses in fuel such as this?
        Mr. Simmons. Well, it would all come down to how good the
    State Energy Security Plan is. But if there are certain,
    hopefully, I think that that is--that that would be the goal,
    to be able to look at some of those challenges, especially
    foreseeable challenges that may happen in situations like that.
        Mr. O'Halleran. Mr. Chairman, I applaud the committee's
    work to discuss these issues in a bipartisan fashion on this
    and other issues as this Congress moves forward. And I yield
    back.
        Mr. Rush. I thank the gentleman for yielding back.
        The Chair now recognizes the gentleman from Ohio, Mr. Latta
    for 5 minutes.
        Mr. Latta. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. And thanks
    for today's hearing. And thanks for our witnesses for being
    with us today.
        Mr. Assistant Secretary, when reading your testimony you
    have an area you were talking about the cyber security that
    you're building, you want to see built into the design,
    production, and planning of new technologies. I know my friend
    from California Mr. McNerney and I have worked together on
    issues on cyber security and also on cyber sense and also the
    grid and the resiliency there.
        I'm just kind of interested. And when you are looking at
    what you want to do and on cyber resilience for all the
    manufacturing supply chains, could you go into that, what you
    are looking at?
        Mr. Simmons. Sure. Well, there is a, there is a number of
    things. First of all, we recently announced a cyber security in
    energy efficient manufacturing, which is a new $70 million
    effort to look at the future of manufacturing in the United
    States. And the future of manufacturing is likely to be much
    more automated than it is today. And as we are thinking about
    new automation, that new automation will increase energy
    efficiency hopefully.
        However, new automation creates new, new areas for attack.
    And so we want to make sure is that as we are from the very
    beginning looking at any opportunities to make, to make new
    automation more cyber secure, automation and controls so that
    they are more cyber secure from the very beginning.
        The Department of Defense also has a program in energy
    efficiency of manufacturing. They are focused on existing
    manufacturing. And as the cyber security and energy efficiency
    manufacturing program that we recently put out, we will work
    very closely with DoD to make sure that their comments and
    insights are considered as we move forward.
        Mr. Latta. Well, let me follow up then, because when you
    talk, like, in my district I have 60,000 manufacturing jobs.
    And when I have been out in my district extensively and, you
    know, with the automation that is going on, and also Mr. Welch
    and I who in this committee we did the internet of things
    working group two Congresses ago. And what we are seeing out
    there with all of the different technologies going on, how do
    you work with the companies out there or the manufacturers or
    the innovators to make sure that they are building this in? And
    also, at the same time, making sure that what they are putting
    into the product is secure to begin with, that they are not
    getting it from an insecure source that might have, you know,
    something in there that you could have a cyber attack?
        Mr. Simmons. So, the -- I am not, I don't have a great
    answer for you. The cyber security and energy efficiency in
    manufacturing is a new effort so I don't have any stories to
    tell about that. However, both the Office of Electricity when
    dealing with the bulk power grid is very much focused on the
    issue in terms of cyber security of the systems that control
    the bulk power grid. And, also, the Cyber Security, Energy
    Security, and Emergency Response Office in DOE is focused on
    those issues. And I can get you some comments about, about
    their work and how, how we are working to improve that cyber
    security.
        Also, a real asset for the country is the work that happens
    in the National Labs in terms of cyber security, at places such
    as Sandia National Lab, Idaho National Lab, Pacific Northwest
    National Lab, and looking at ways to improve cyber security.
    And they reach out to the private sector to make sure that they
    are, that they are coordinating and making sure that best
    practices are followed, as well as trying to understand where--
    what cyber security issues we are seeing today so that we can
    make improvements.
        Mr. Latta. Thank you.
        Mr. Campos, in my remaining minute, how much does the
    Department of Energy spend on the annual basis, on an annual
    basis on the Workforce Development Initiatives?
        Mr. Campos. Thank you, Senator. Our budget within my
    office, in particular, economic development, diversity, we have
    a $10 million budget. And a fraction, fractions of it go across
    the spectrum. And what I mean by that is workforce development
    is woven in throughout my budget. About 6 point--5.8 million of
    it is for the actual labor, staffing. And then the rest is
    divided amongst all the initiatives. So, but workforce
    development is woven in within the whole, within the remaining
    budget.
        Mr. Simmons. And if I may, there are other, there are some
    things that my office does in terms of workforce development,
    both the Advanced Manufacturing Office, weatherization, the
    Weatherization Assistance Program works on workforce
    development through improving training. There is a number of
    opportunities, there is a number of things that we are
    currently doing. We would have to get you a holistic DOE number
    from across the entire enterprise.
        Mr. Latta. Thank you.
        Mr. Chairman, my time has expired, and I yield back.
        Mr. Rush. I thank the gentleman. The Chair now recognizes
    the gentleman from New York, Mr. Tonko, for 5 minutes.
        Mr. Tonko. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And thank you,
    gentlemen, for your testimony.
        Secretary Simmons, I agree that energy affordability should
    be a top priority. Low-income households pay on average 7.2
    percent of household income on utilities--I have seen even
    higher numbers than that--more than three times the amount that
    higher-income households pay. And according to the Energy
    Information Administration, 1 in 3 U.S. households faces
    challenges, or faced challenges in paying energy bills in 2015.
        Last week when we debated H.R. 9, a number of Members
    raised concerns about the costs of energy. And I believe they
    are sincere about wanting to keep expenses down. So, today I
    want to offer at least a partial solution on how to help lower
    utility bills for low-income families.
        Mr. Secretary, why do you think low-income households pay a
    disproportionate amount in their utility bills?
        Mr. Simmons. A disproportionate amount of their income in
    utility bills? Yes, they do.
        Mr. Tonko. But why do you think that is the case?
        Mr. Simmons. Because energy is a, energy is a necessity.
        Mr. Tonko. But in terms of relative scale to more affluent
    households, why would their wedge of the pie for energy be
    disproportionately larger?
        Mr. Simmons. Well, for one, they have less discretionary
    income. And so, when you are looking at the most important
    bills that you pay you have to pay to keep your house warm or
    cool, you have to pay to keep the lights on, you have to pay to
    get from point A to point B. Like, there is no way around those
    things, so.
        Mr. Tonko. I would suggest, also, that they live in
    inefficient homes with poor insulation, and perhaps old
    windows, et cetera. Unfortunately, many of these households
    cannot afford the up front costs of a retrofit, even when it is
    for cost-effective efficiency improvements.
        Luckily, DOE's Weatherization Assistance Program has more
    than a 40-year track record of making homes safer, healthier,
    and more energy efficient. The program has provided assistance
    to more than 7.4 million low-income households since that
    beginning date of 1976.
        Now, Mr. Secretary, do you think weatherization assistance
    provides a positive service to many of America's most
    vulnerable households, struggling families, seniors on fixed
    incomes, and the disabled for instance?
        Mr. Simmons. Yes.
        Mr. Tonko. Despite the program's success, I believe aspects
    of the program could be modernized and improved. A lot has
    changed in 40 years. There are new and emerging technologies
    and techniques to deliver even more effective services. So, Mr.
    Secretary, do you believe weatherization assistance should be
    able to include the latest, cost-effective technologies and
    services to achieve the program's goals?
        Mr. Simmons. Yes.
        Mr. Tonko. OK. And, Mr. Secretary, many of my colleagues
    have talked about needing to put innovation at the forefront of
    our energy policy. Today, weatherization funding is provided to
    States based on a formula. H.R. 2041 would create a small
    competitive grant program as a set-aside to that funding to
    support innovative weatherization practices.
        Mr. Secretary, do you support fostering more innovation in
    traditional weatherization services?
        Mr. Simmons. We, we very much foster, we very much support
    innovation because at the end of the day what matters is
    reducing people's energy bills and with the Weatherization
    Program.
        Mr. Tonko. Thank you very much.
        The most recent authorization of the program expired in
    2012. That authorization was for $1.4 billion, a level we have
    never reached in a sustained way. This bill includes a
    reauthorization at $350 million.
        Secretary Simmons, does the administration generally like
    to see programs reauthorized at levels better aligned with
    actual funding?
        Mr. Simmons. I'm sorry, I missed part of that question.
        Mr. Tonko. Sure. Does the administration generally like to
    see programs reauthorized at levels better aligned with actual
    funding?
        Mr. Simmons. I don't think the administration has taken a
    position on that question.
        Mr. Tonko. OK. Well, Mr. Chair, this committee's
    responsibility should be to reauthorize effective programs. I
    think it is clear that the Weatherization Assistance Program,
    with its record of supporting efficiency for low-income
    households deserves to be reauthorized and modernized.
        Mr. Chairman, thank you again for holding this hearing. I
    would also voice my support for EECBG reauthorization, which
    the Environment Subcommittee heard from a bipartisan group of
    mayors provides the flexible resources to advance local energy
    agendas.
        And with that, I will yield back.
        Mr. Rush. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
        The Chair now recognizes my friend from West Virginia, Mr.
    McKinley, for 5 minutes.
        Mr. McKinley. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
        I guess what I am going to need from you all is some dates.
    And I don't think you are going to be able to answer initially
    where they are, so you will have to get back to me on it. But I
    would like to have with the Weatherization Program, and I thank
    the chairman for sponsoring this. I am one of the authors or
    sponsors of the Home Program, so it is something very sensitive
    and why we need to be moving on it.
        And I appreciate this, the questions that were asked about
    why they, the poor, are disproportionately affected. So I want
    to go to a line of re-questioning, especially as it relates to
    articles about Pennsylvania not being able--not spending the
    money that was authorized for them. And it was something like
    $5.4 million Pennsylvania had--we had provided Pennsylvania to
    help out the poor. And they didn't do it. The money had to be
    returned.
        So, my question is three parts. One is, do you have, can
    you get me or our office a list of all the States when they
    established a program to do weatherization? Is there support
    for that, to get that?
        Mr. Simmons. Absolutely.
        Mr. McKinley. Secondly, I would like to know when each of
    those 50 States, and perhaps territories that would come into
    play, when did they cut their first check?
        Mr. Simmons. OK.
        Mr. McKinley. To see that they are complying with what we
    are trying to reach out and help people. Maybe it is the
    bureaucracy or something that is holding it back and they are
    not helping out what we are trying to do to help out on that.
        Mr. Simmons. OK.
        Mr. McKinley. And thirdly, I would like to know the
    expiration date. How much money is being returned to the
    Federal Government that the States are not----
        Mr. Simmons. OK.
        Mr. McKinley [continuing]. Dispensing?
        And with it, so with that because I am hearing stories,
    because we talked a lot about this in West Virginia, I am
    trying to help out folks, that sometimes in other States they
    get the money, the work is done, but it may be 6 months to a
    year before the contractor is reimbursed. That is maybe the
    fourth aspect of it is, is there any justification way that
    people can, contractors should be put in that position? I
    don't, I wouldn't think that you would agree that they should
    be, it should be a year before they are paid, do you?
        Mr. Simmons. No. No.
        Mr. McKinley. So, it looked like you want to say a little
    bit more on that.
        Mr. Simmons. I was just going to say that, you know, we,
    the--we work very hard. The--we work very hard to make sure
    that the money they get appropriated under that program go out
    to the States in a timely fashion. And we would hope that that
    money gets then spent by the States in a timely fashion as
    well.
        Mr. McKinley. That you're aware. It is not so much wrong
    with Washington. We have enough problems here. But it looks
    like the States are not pushing it down to where it needs to
    be, particularly to help the poor in getting their homes, their
    efficiency.
        This, this article about Pennsylvania is very disturbing
    that was put out. And I, I hope that we can kind of put that to
    rest.
        So, if you would get back to us in a timely fashion with
    the three aspects: When were the States established; when did
    they cut the first check; and how much money did they return to
    the Federal Government that wasn't allocated to help out?
        Mr. Simmons. OK. We will do that.
        Mr. McKinley. And with that, Mr. Chairman, I yield back.
        Mr. Rush. The Chair thanks the gentleman for yielding back.
        The Chair now recognizes my friend from the great State of
    Illinois, Ms. Kelly, for 5 minutes.
        Ms. Kelly. Thank you, Mr. Chair. And also was wondering,
    the report that Mr. McKinley asked for, can the committee have
    that report of the States?
        Mr. Rush. Mr. McKinley, will you share that, your report
    that you mentioned with the Chair, and even send it to the rest
    of the committee?
        Mr. McKinley. Yes.
        Mr. Rush. All right. So ordered. Right.
        Ms. Kelly. Thank you, Chairman Rush.
        Today's hearing is an important opportunity for the
    committee to review several pieces of legislation that increase
    energy efficiency and build a new energy workforce. Thanks for
    being here. I have introduced H.R. 2119, which amends the
    Energy Policy Act of 2005 to increase the authorization for a
    grant program that was set up to provide grants for States to
    improve the energy efficiency of public buildings and
    facilities.
        States and local communities often lack the financial
    resources to undertake large-scale efficiency retrofits for
    public buildings. This grant program makes it easier for States
    to make these investments, which in turn lowers the utility
    bills for the community operating the building.
        Assistant Secretary Simmons, in your testimony you discuss
    the fact that homes and commercial buildings are the largest
    energy-consuming sector in the U.S. What more can DOE's
    Building Technologies Office be doing to support State and
    local communities who may lack the resources to retrofit public
    buildings?
        Mr. Simmons. One of the first things that we can be doing
    is providing technical assistance. And some of that technical--
    currently we provide technical assistance to the Federal
    Government through the Federal Energy Management Program. And
    there could be opportunities there to provide that type of
    assistance at the local level.
        And as well as some of the work that we are doing in the
    Building Technology Office is expanding the state of the art
    about retrofits, since there are a lot of public buildings, and
    wanting to make sure that there are more cost-effective,
    easier-to-do retrofit options to reduce the energy footprint of
    government at all levels, from the Federal down to the local
    level.
        Ms. Kelly. You also indicated that DOE shouldn't focus on
    grant programs like this that could be more appropriately left
    to the private sector. In what scenario would the private
    sector step in to fund efficiency upgrades that publicly
    operated buildings?
        Mr. Simmons. So, one way that that, that that occurs
    currently is through energy savings performance contracting
    where that happens at the Federal level but also at the State
    and local level. And I believe that is an area that some people
    in that community, some companies in that community see as a
    real opportunity for the future to work with schools,
    hospitals, and other public buildings to do one way of
    improving the energy efficiency of those buildings.
        Ms. Kelly. I won't ask you to do it now, but can you send
    me some examples of----
        Mr. Simmons. Sure. Sure.
        Ms. Kelly [continuing]. Where that has happened?
        A characteristic of public sector, local, State, and
    Federal is its limited resources compared to the private
    sector. This means a project upgrading public sector buildings
    may not be as profitable as a private construction project, and
    without incentives such as Federal grants driving investment in
    public sector buildings, our municipal buildings will only
    decline further in quality and efficiency, resulting in lower
    quality services and quality of life for our constituents. And
    I know in parts of my district and in some parts--I represent
    the south suburbs, south side of Chicago, south suburbs--and I
    know particularly in some of the south suburban towns they just
    simply cannot afford it. They just can't.
        As such, I am not as confident, I guess, as you are in the
    ability of private sector alone to drive the market for green
    construction. So, making the public buildings in our community
    more energy efficient has numerous benefits, as you know. It
    makes our buildings healthier and safer places to work by
    eliminating drafts and improving indoor air quality. Energy
    efficiency work creates good-paying jobs for local workers
    which I know is very important to our chairman, workforce
    development, and to me. It is a win/win for communities across
    the country. And the Federal Government should be providing
    more support to bolster these efforts.
        And with that, I yield back.
        Mr. Rush. I want to thank the gentlelady for yielding back.
        The Chair recognizes now Mr. Hudson from North Carolina for
    5 minutes.
        Mr. Hudson. Thank the chairman. And thank you to both the
    witnesses for being here. I know it is a long day for you, but
    it is very informative for us.
        Mr. Campos, thank you in particular for being here today. I
    want to focus on H.R. 1315, the Blue Collar to Green Collar
    Jobs Development Act, and the workforce development programs
    within the Department of Energy. Workforce development should
    be a truly non-partisan issue. As you may know, I have been a
    sponsor of similar legislation which passed with unanimous
    consent in prior Congresses. However, I have serious concerns
    with this new draft.
        You know, as a previous sponsor I was cut out of the
    drafting of this process. And because new language has been
    added, I feel we will unfairly pick winners and losers at the
    expense of consumers and workforce trainees.
        Mr. Campos, what is the Department of Energy's vision for
    energy workforce development? And do you agree that it would be
    shortsighted to limit workforce development and training
    opportunities to so-called green-collar jobs only?
        Mr. Campos. Thank you, Mr. Congressman.
        I think that the DOE at large has interwoven workforce
    development within its many different elements. And within my
    office it is an important aspect for the growth of our country
    and our national security. So, I am an advocate on doing
    whatever is necessary to promote that and to work within the
    confines of whatever ends up happening with this bill, and so
    forth.
        Mr. Simmons. And if I may, the Department as a whole is
    very supportive of workforce development. There are obviously
    some areas where there needs to--that it is more of a critical
    issue, for example around nuclear energy, for example, where
    you have the nuclear fleet is declining in size over time. And
    if you do not have people that can----
        Mr. Hudson. Well, I understand that. But, I mean, my
    question is if we are only looking at green-collar jobs are we
    leaving out a lot of other jobs in the future that we ought to
    be training for?
        Mr. Simmons. That is, that is certainly possible because of
    jobs in the, you know, the oil and gas sector in particular.
        Mr. Hudson. I appreciate that.
        Mr. Campos, I understand that the majority requested
    technical assistance from the Department, and that DOE
    expressed several concerns. However, it does not appear that
    any of the suggested improvements have been made.
        Mr. Chairman, I would like to ask unanimous consent that
    the Department of Energy's technical assistance document be
    included in the hearing record.
        Mr. Rush. Without objection, so ordered.
        [The information appears at the conclusion of the hearing.]
        Mr. Hudson. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
        Mr. Campos, I am concerned about the price tag also of H.R.
    1315. The bill amends the Department of Energy Organization Act
    to create a new program office with an authorized authorization
    of $500 million. It authorizes a new $100 million training
    program and it creates a new $350 million Energy Workforce
    Grant Program limited to energy efficiency and renewable
    energy. It sounds a lot like President Obama's Green Jobs
    Program.
        Does the Department of Energy need additional legislative
    authority or money for green-collar job grants?
        Mr. Campos. Mr. Congressman, I will have to work with my
    staff and get back to you on that.
        Mr. Simmons. One, we are, we are spending money in certain
    ways that on things that you could call green collar. For
    example, the Solar Office recently put out a $13 million
    funding opportunity announcement specifically on solar
    workforce. And there's a number of other opportunities and
    efforts going on besides that currently.
        Mr. Hudson. Great.
        For either witness, is there a risk that this new bill adds
    new layers of duplicative programs? If you are already able to
    focus on green-collar jobs, are we duplicating efforts here? I
    would ask either witness.
        Mr. Simmons. I would have to get back to you on that one. I
    am not familiar enough with, with all the language to make a
    good answer.
        Mr. Hudson. Mr. Campos?
        Mr. Campos. My office will also get back to you, sir.
        Mr. Hudson. I appreciate that.
        You know, Mr. Chairman, you and I are friends. I trust you,
    respect you, and we have worked together in the past. And I
    would love to find a way to work together going forward. I just
    have a lot of concerns about this draft and this legislation.
    And I appreciate you giving me a chance to talk about some of
    this.
        Mr. Rush. The Chair is eager to work with you. You have
    been my friend and we have worked together in the past. And I
    look forward to working together with you again in the future.
    And we will clear up any uncertainties and contingencies that
    exist regarding the bill. I think there is a misunderstanding
    of what the Chair means by blue to green collar. It is not
    excluding any particular characterization of jobs that are
    available in the energy sector.
        But, and so I look forward to working with you.
        The Chair now recognizes the gentleman from Massachusetts,
    Mr. Kennedy, for 5 minutes.
        Mr. Kennedy. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I want to thank you,
    and the committee, and our witnesses from the Department of
    Energy. Thank you for your service, thank you for being here
    today.
        As you have seen so far, expanding energy efficiency is an
    incredibly important piece of the fight to lessen our
    dependence on fossil fuels and reduce emissions. I am proud to
    offer a bill along with my colleague Greg Stanton of Arizona,
    to help municipalities achieve their goals of lessening a
    carbon footprint.
        The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants Program
    was authorized as part of the Energy Independence and Security
    Act of 2007, and later funded as part of the stimulus in 2008.
        Oh, I am in the wrong seat. Forgive me.
        The energy efficiency and clean energy technologies are
    critically important to ensure a livable future. In addition to
    the environmental, civil, and economic benefits, they have the
    potential to be some of the fastest growing job opportunities,
    particularly in my district in Southeaster Massachusetts.
        Last month we heard from a panel of industry experts and
    business owners that they can't find enough workers with the
    right skill sets to fill the jobs that they need in a clean
    energy economy. I specifically asked about offshore wind. And
    our witnesses agreed offshore wind is coming and we don't have
    a trained workforce ready. That is not just about jobs working
    directly in the industry, but also about the supply chain
    aspects that are on the cusp of providing an economic boom in
    the United States.
        We have heard from many groups eager to provide the
    training and education necessary for this generation of
    workers. For example, at Bristol Community College, Mass.
    Maritime, and UMAS Dartmouth, they all recently signed a
    memorandum of understanding last June to help develop
    curriculum. Similarly, European-based wind companies have set
    up a American headquarters in Boston over the course of the
    past 6 months. And recently, Tufts University announced the
    creation of the first graduate program for offshore wind in the
    U.S., focused on structural and geotechnical engineering.
        We have enormous opportunities sitting right in front of us
    to create a new energy--a new American industry to become world
    leaders in offshore wind.
        With that framework in mind, I would like to discuss how
    the Department of Energy and the Congress can work together to
    establish the building blocks necessary for this program to
    succeed.
        I am here today to support Chairman Rush's bill, H.R. 1315,
    Blue Collar to Green Collar Jobs Development Act of 2019. This
    legislation would ensure that we are training our workforce for
    new jobs in clean energy, as well as connecting trained people
    to employment opportunities, especially for underrepresented
    and underserved populations at the heart of this bill.
        So, Mr. Campos, to begin with, as I have mentioned,
    offshore wind is coming to Massachusetts. And this provides an
    exciting new set of job opportunities. How can we make sure
    that Massachusetts and the surrounding area is ready for those
    jobs?
        Mr. Campos. Thank you, Congressman Kennedy. That is vitally
    important in all sectors of the U.S., including the sector that
    you reside in, are important. What we are doing as an office is
    increasing an initiative we have called Equity in Energy. And I
    spoke to that a little earlier in my opening statement.
        And we are engaging with various universities, community
    colleges, groups, associations to engage in those conversations
    and increase participation within those stakeholders, including
    industry, including areas of workforce development, and also
    including prison reentry. So, we are working with all these
    groups to come to a better utilization and for a better
    edification within my office and the Department in addressing
    those concerns in renewable energy.
        Mr. Kennedy. So, I appreciate that. I would just note that
    I went to the web page for the Office of Economic Impact and
    Diversity to look at the Equity in Energy program that you
    talked about in your opening statement. The web page says,
    ``site under construction.'' So I just hope that you are able
    to put some more information there soon as we try to make some
    investments to try to guide some of that, the potential there
    going forward.
        Mr. Campos. Absolutely, Congressman Kennedy. We actually
    have just started this new initiative about 3 months ago. And
    so it is under construction but we are actually working towards
    this. Again, I will get your office the information as soon as
    it comes out.
        Mr. Kennedy. Thank you.
        Mr. Rush's bill allows for DOE to provide direct assistance
    to apprenticeship pro--or, excuse me, apprenticeship programs,
    labor organizations, State and local workforce development
    boards. Do you think that it would be a helpful way to train
    and prepare our workforce for jobs in the future as they
    materialize across the country, like offshore wind?
        Mr. Simmons. Through apprenticeship programs?
        Mr. Kennedy. Yes. I mean, the basic idea of trying to take
    some of those Federal programs to work locally where we have
    enormous opportunity, particularly in Southeastern New England,
    with some economically challenged communities to try to put
    this on the forefront of an emerging industry. So, want to
    figure out how you all are viewing that as a potential area of
    cooperation.
        Mr. Simmons. Unless I am mistaken, I don't think we have,
    the administration has a position on that specific aspect. One
    of the, one of the things with offshore wind is that, that my
    office is working on, is working on driving down the costs so
    we can be able to, you know, realize the potential that there
    is by having lower cost devices. But it is not enough to just
    have the devices. You also need to have people that understand
    how to install them.
        And so it sounds like that there is a lot of good
    opportunity, there is a lot of good activities going on with
    some of the things that you mentioned to make sure that there
    is a trained workforce that can actually install these machines
    offshore.
        Mr. Kennedy. I am over time. So I just want to--we have a
    tremendous opportunity to actually incubate and grow an
    industry that does not exist. It is going to need cooperation
    between Federal, State, and local governments. And Texas I
    think has, and the secretary has a record of showing, or
    growing a wind industry in Texas that I think some lessons
    there could be applied valuably to a new industry as well.
        So, look forward to working with you guys as we go forward.
    Yield back.
        Mr. Rush. The chairman now recognizes the gentleman from
    Michigan, Mr. Walberg, for 5 minutes.
        Mr. Walberg. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And thanks to the
    panel for being here.
        Mr. Simmons, DOE's Weatherization Assistance Program
    provides money to States to distribute the funds to support
    low-income residents by conducting energy efficiency audits and
    weatherizing homes. Over the years, concerns have been missed--
    raised about the administration of the program and its
    influence on State energy policy.
        The program has continued to receive funding, but Congress
    has not reauthorized it since it expired in 2012, as you know.
    In your testimony, while discussing the Weatherization
    Assistance Program you mentioned that, and I quote, ``Utility
    programs across the country have recognized and adopted the
    Home Energy Professional Certification Program.'' You noted
    that the administration is not seeking any funding for the
    Weatherization Assistance Program. But the bill before us
    contemplates reauthorizing a significant grant program with
    additional funding.
        And so, has DOE asked for this funding? And can you please
    talk about how your office and the Federal Government works
    with States on implementing the program?
        Mr. Simmons. So, the fist part of the question, we have not
    asked for funding. We work, we have the Weatherization, the
    Weatherization Assistance Program Office that focuses on both
    the State Energy Program and the Weatherization Program, and
    making sure that the money goes out the--the money goes out the
    door, the money that is appropriated by Congress. And
    especially on weatherization, that those funds are--we fund
    training to make sure that the funds are spent in ways that
    make sense, that we have quality installers, quality
    installation, so that the low-income families are really
    receiving the benefit of these Federal dollars.
        Those are, those are a couple of the ways that, you know,
    we have oversight of the money. But it is also important to
    make sure that the money goes out to the various States.
        Mr. Walberg. Along those lines, what do you see as the role
    here for EERE with regard to what the States are doing?
        Mr. Simmons. There is a, I think that there is an important
    oversight role that we need to play to make sure that the money
    gets spent in ways that are consistent with Federal law.
        Mr. Walberg. Appropriate, efficient?
        Mr. Simmons. Appropriate, efficient, and that the money
    gets--and the money is really going to the people specified by
    Congress and is producing quality benefits for them.
        Mr. Walberg. Does the Department view that the
    Weatherization Program is really needed?
        Mr. Simmons. Well, we, the administration doesn't have a,
    doesn't take a position on that. The budget request is zero for
    the office.
        We also understand where Congress is. And we, so money, a
    substantial amount of money is appropriated every year. And so
    we work very diligently to meet our statutory obligations and
    to carry out the program.
        Mr. Walberg. I guess with that in mind, would you commit
    here to providing technical drafting assistance----
        Mr. Simmons. Yes, sir.
        Mr. Walberg [continuing]. For this bill?
        Mr. Simmons. Yes, sir.
        Mr. Walberg. So it does meet any concerns about making sure
    the program is viable, the program is necessary, the program
    functions well and we are not wasting dollars.
        Mr. Simmons. Yes, sir.
        Mr. Walberg. Mr. Simmons, as you know, the subcommittee
    recently examined EERE's proposed process rule. At the hearing,
    you committed to following the statutory process to clear the
    backlog, which I applaud. But I was also struck by the logic of
    the proposed rule which sought to prioritize those rules that
    might return the most bang for the buck in energy savings, more
    specifically half a quad.
        With regard to the legislation before us today, would you
    like to see the similar logic included in the Weatherization
    Assistance Program or other proposed grant programs providing
    support for energy efficiency retrofit should the legislation
    move forward?
        Mr. Simmons. We don't have a position on that. That said,
    it would--metrics are helpful.
        Mr. Walberg. Would it provide EERE more flexibility?
        Mr. Simmons. I would have to hear from the experts in the
    program office on that if it would provide us with more
    flexibility.
        Mr. Walberg. Mr. Chairman, I thank you, and I yield back.
        Mr. Rush. The gentleman yields.
        The Chair now recognizes the gentleman from the great State
    of California, Mr. McNerney.
        Mr. McNerney. I thank the chairman.
        All of our States are great, aren't they, Mr. Chairman.
        Mr. Rush. All of them.
        Mr. McNerney. OK. I might be the last person asking
    questions this morning.
        Mr. Rush. And you are the greatest.
        Mr. McNerney. I appreciate the bipartisan nature of the
    hearing this morning. All the bills we are looking at are
    bipartisan, and that is a good sign.
        Energy efficiency is a fast-growing field, and it is
    creating good jobs. In particular, the Smart Energy and Water
    Efficiency Act of 2019 that I introduced with my colleague Mr.
    Kinzinger is on the agenda today. It establishes a pilot
    program for grants to demonstrate advanced energy innovation,
    technology-based solutions for water, and energy efficiency,
    including improved energy efficiency, water, wastewater and
    water reuse systems, supporting the installation of advanced
    automation systems and improved conservation quality, and
    predictive maintenance through interconnected technologies.
        Mr. Simmons, thank you for speaking out on energy
    efficiency and renewable energy program. I appreciate what you
    said about the Water Security Grant Challenge. Are there any
    resources being devoted to prizes, R&D, and public/private
    partnerships for that program?
        Mr. Simmons. There will be, yes.
        Mr. McNerney. Do you have some idea what they might look
    like?
        Mr. Simmons. They are, they are currently in development,
    so we don't have, we don't have what they are currently. But
    there is definitely the issue of water. Both water reuse in
    terms of produced waters from oil and gas development, for
    example, but also for resource recovery from wastewater. Those
    are two of the important topics that we are, that we are
    looking at. So, you can make wastewater more valuable than
    just----
        Mr. McNerney. Sure. Any idea when you will have those to
    announce?
        Mr. Simmons. I don't. Hopefully we will have something in
    the next few months.
        Mr. McNerney. You mentioned that water produced from the
    energy sector is being transformed from waste into a resource.
    One of the challenges are the chemicals that are introduced in
    this process. Is EERE committed to reducing the freshwater
    requirements using fracking, and cleaning up wastewater that is
    produced by fracking for safer use?
        Mr. Simmons. So, you know, in that grant challenge we are
    working across the Department of Energy. So that, in terms of
    fracking, that is really the Office of Fossil Energy. But as I,
    so as I understand their, what, you know, their goal is
    definitely to use less fresh water, to be able to do fracking
    in a more water-efficient manner. And then to be able to, so
    that when the produced water comes out for that water to have
    much more wider uses, for example, maybe agriculture,----
        Mr. McNerney. Right.
        Mr. Simmons [continuing]. Rather than just having to
    dispose of it in deep injection wells.
        Mr. McNerney. Well, good. I am glad to hear that.
        Is your office employing or intending to employ any
    artificial intelligence technology to improve water energy
    efficiency and predictive maintenance?
        Mr. Simmons. I would, I would say that that rings a bell.
    But I would have to look into that.
        Mr. McNerney. OK. It seems to me there is a lot of
    opportunity there.
        Mr. Simmons. There is. There are a lot of opportunities
    around the managing of complex systems such as wastewater
    treatment plant and AI. The Department of Energy is home to the
    fastest computers in the world. And, obviously, we have a lot
    of experts who look at that. And so any time that we can use
    various parts of the administration, or various parts of DOE
    can work together on an issue here, we very much try to do
    that.
        Mr. McNerney. Mr. Campos, I apologize, I missed your
    opening statement and the questions that may have come to you.
    But I am very concerned about the sort of retirement of folks
    that are qualified to work in energy systems and in water
    systems both.
        Do you have any trend lines of the number of people that
    expect to retire in the next decade and the number of people
    that are coming into the system to replace those people?
        Mr. Campos. Mr. Congressman, overall I don't have those
    numbers, but I share your concern. There is an aging population
    in all energy sectors across the board. And we are addressing
    those within our scope of work. But there is a, there is a
    point of concern there for sure. And I share that.
        Mr. McNerney. And you are, I mean, you are reaching out or
    you are giving guidelines to reach, for these agencies to reach
    out to communities across the spectrum to get people. I mean,
    there are pretty good paying jobs that we are talking about;
    right? And they are good careers. They should be attractive to
    folks.
        Mr. Campos. Yes, that is one of my, my priorities it to get
    out there within different areas of the United States and to
    reach and to provide that information. Because you are
    absolutely right, these are good paying jobs. And there is a
    lack of information and awareness towards this. And that is one
    of my priorities.
        Mr. McNerney. Are we requiring college educations for most
    of these positions in your opinion?
        Mr. Campos. This is a mix. That is why in my Equity in
    Energy we are doing STEM aptitude, which doesn't necessarily
    need college degrees. So, it is a variety. And we are seeing
    more and more that it is certificate-based, not so much a 4-
    year or 2-year degree needed in many of these areas.
        Mr. McNerney. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I yield back.
        Mr. Rush. The Chair thanks the gentleman for yielding back.
        This concludes the questioning and answering segment of the
    hearing. And so, I do want to thank the witnesses for your
    appearance today before the subcommittee. And I look forward to
    having you once again to appear before this subcommittee in the
    near future. So, thank you for your time.
        The Chair now entertains a unanimous consent request to
    enter into the record various letters and documents, including
    a letter from the National Community Action Foundation; a
    letter of support for and from the American Association of
    Blacks in Energy in relation to H.R. 1315; a letter of support
    from the American Gas Association in support of the HOMES Act;
    an April 21, 2011, GAO report on the Energy Efficiency and
    Conservation Block Grant Program; a DOE technical assistance
    comments on H.R. 1315; a letter from the U.S. Green Building
    Council; a letter of support for H.R. 1315 from the Solar
    Energy Industry Association; a letter of support of H.R. 1315
    from Duke Energy; a letter of support from the Alliance to Save
    Energy in support of H.R. 1315; a letter of support for H.R.
    1315 from the Building Performance Industry; and an article
    from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
        Seeing no objection, the unanimous consent request is
    approved.
        [The information appears at the conclusion of the
    hearing.]\1\
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
        \1\ The GAO report has been retained in committee files and also is
    available at https://docs.house.gov/meetings/IF/IF03/20190410/109300/
    HHRG-116-IF03-20190410-SD989.pdf.
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Mr. Rush. And seeing that there are no more witnesses and
    no more Members to ask questions, the Chair will now adjourn
    this subcommittee. And thank you once again for your
    appearance.
        I remind Members that, pursuant to committee rules, they
    have 10 business days to submit additional questions for the
    record to be answered by the witnesses for whatever period. I
    ask each witness to respond promptly to any such questions that
    you may receive.
        And at this time the subcommittee stands adjourned.
        [Whereupon, at 12:54 p.m., the subcommittee was adjourned.]
        [Material submitted for inclusion in the record follows:]
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