[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 145 (Thursday, October 8, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2477-E2478]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 3183, ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT AND 
               RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2010

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. RUSH D. HOLT

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 1, 2009

  Mr. HOLT. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the conference report 
on the Fiscal Year 2010 Energy and Water Development and Related 
Agencies Appropriations Act. Programs funded under this legislation 
range from nuclear weapons and nonproliferation capabilities to basic 
research on current and next generation energy sources and distribution 
technologies. I am pleased that the conference agreement before us 
today reflects a strong commitment to our nation's needs in these 
areas.
  I believe that nuclear proliferation is the single greatest threat to 
global peace and security. The United States should be leading efforts 
to eliminate nuclear weapons and secure loose or inadequately 
safeguarded nuclear material. That is why I am very pleased that the 
conference agreement increases our investment in nonproliferation 
programs to $2.1 billion, including a 43 percent increase in funding 
for International Nuclear Material Protection and Cooperation. These 
funds will improve our ability to stop illicit nuclear trafficking and 
prevent terrorists from gaining access to unsecured nuclear material 
around the world. Equally important is the fact this agreement exceeds 
the budget request for weapons dismantlement and disposition, 
reflecting a dedication to reduced U.S. nuclear weapon stockpiles.
  The conference agreement also maintains significant investments in 
Department of Energy research and development programs that are 
critical to placing our nation on a path toward a sustainable energy 
future. The support for energy efficiency and renewable energy research 
in this legislation will help us develop new, less expensive ways to 
produce and use energy. Funding for electricity delivery and 
reliability will allow us to begin modernizing and securing our aging 
electrical grid against internal and external threats. The $4.9 billion 
in funding for the Office of Science will support the basic research 
that will be the foundation of tomorrow's transformative discoveries 
and innovations. I appreciate the $426 million investment for fusion 
energy sciences included

[[Page E2478]]

in the conference agreement, and I hope we will continue to strengthen 
this and other basic and applied energy programs in the coming years.
  Finally, I applaud the conference agreement for upholding the funding 
goals of the America COMPETES Act--an important step toward restoring 
the rightful place of science in our nation. Yet we should not 
underestimate the size or scope of the challenges posed by climate 
change and energy security. As we consider future legislation, the twin 
goals of a clean energy future and a robust economy will require a firm 
dedication to providing our scientists and engineers the resources they 
need to initiate genuinely transformative changes in our energy sector.

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