[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 111 (Thursday, July 25, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1383]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 3816, ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT 
                        APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 1997

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON-LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 24, 1996

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 3816) making 
     appropriations for energy and water development for the 
     fiscal year ending September 30, 1997, and for other 
     purposes:

  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Chairman, the Energy and Water 
appropriations bill we are voting on today is a mixed bag of good and 
bad; where a good Peter is robbed to pay a worthy Paul.
  On the good side, a reasonable amount has been appropriated for 
environmental restoration and waste management as well much needed 
water projects. In addition, a sufficient amount of money has been made 
available for stewardship and management activities of our nuclear 
stockpile. Finally, the National Ignition Facility [NIF], which will 
provide invaluable research in the areas of nuclear weapons testing and 
fusion research. I am glad that the committee saw the need to fund 
these activities at levels close to their requested amounts.
  In fact, some of these dollars will be going to a flood control 
project in my district; Harris County is working with the Army Corps. 
of Engineers to deepen a channel in the city of Houston called Sims 
Bayou. This long-term project will renovate the bayou and help 
alleviate some of the flooding which occurs during heavy rains. This is 
an important project for the people in my district and they appreciate 
the Federal help they are receiving to correct this problem.
  I have always been a supporter of science research and have stated 
often that it is the economic engine of the 21st century. And it is 
because of this belief that I am especially gratified to find that the 
Energy Department's general science and research programs have been 
spared the budget ax that some other deserving programs suffered.
  However, beneath this good news lurks some very negative decisions 
made by Republicans. Let's start with the nearly 50 percent cut from 
last year to the Energy Department's administrative expenses. Now, I 
know the Department is in the process of restructuring itself and 
trying to become more efficient, however, I believe this to be a 
continuation of the Republican attack on Secretary Hazel O'Leary. 
Regardless of who you are, you cannot convince me that an immediate 50 
percent reduction in an organization's administrative budget is not 
drastic and unreasonable. This is all the more obscene when you realize 
that because of the time it takes to RIF Government employees and the 
costs involved, no savings from such actions will be realized until 
fiscal year 1998--a year away. So, I ask the Republican appropriators--
``what is the Department to do until then?''
  In addition to this ill-conceived provision, this appropriations bill 
also decimates much of the funding for solar and renewable energy, 
fusion, nuclear energy, biological, environmental, safety, and health 
and basic energy sciences. In fact, the only activities that are 
adequately funded are those of the Defense Nuclear programs.
  While I may indeed vote in favor of this bill, I strongly urge my 
House and Senate colleagues to restore funding to the activities and 
programs that have been funded well below the President's request. I 
believe that they are worthwhile, valuable and important to our 
Nation's future.

                          ____________________