[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 106 (Friday, July 15, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1337]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 
                                  2012

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. ANNA G. ESHOO

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, July 8, 2011

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 2354) making 
     appropriations for energy and water development and related 
     agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2012, and 
     for other purposes:

  Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to H.R. 2354, the Fiscal 
Year 2011 Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act.
  The bill slashes funding for clean energy efficiency and research 
programs. It also makes steep cuts to flood control and environmental 
cleanup programs. In short, the legislation fails to protect our 
communities and it jeopardizes American innovation and job creation.
  The last place to cut is in the area of investments in clean energy 
technologies. In my Silicon Valley District, innovation is the coin of 
the realm. I've seen dozens of burgeoning companies who are at the 
cutting edge of clean energy technology. Our nation has the capacity to 
lead the world in clean energy technology, and there are domestic 
industries poised for economic explosion if we help, not hurt them.
  According to the Brookings Institution, the nation's clean energy 
economy, defined as goods and services with an environmental benefit, 
employs about 2.7 million people, more than twice the size of the 
fossil-fuel industry.
  Investments today will lay the foundation for our future.
  I oppose H.R. 2354 and urge my colleagues to do the same because 
hobbling our future is neither smart fiscally or policy-wise.

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