[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 106 (Friday, July 15, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1338]
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. MAZIE K. HIRONO

                               of hawaii

                    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. HIRONO. Mr. Chair, I rise today in strong opposition to the 
Fiscal Year 2012 Energy and Water Appropriations bill.
  Last week, the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that only 18,000 
jobs were created in June and more than 14 million people are still 
looking for work--many for over six months.
  As members of Congress, our focus must be on pursuing policies that 
will rebuild our economy by providing these Americans with 
opportunities to work hard and succeed--the very idea that underpins 
the middle class.
  This legislation is a missed opportunity to respond to the jobs 
challenge in a serious way. Instead of investing in our infrastructure 
and supporting innovative new job-creating industries in the renewable 
energy sector, this bill under-invests in both these areas.
  For example, this bill reduces funding for energy efficiency and 
renewable energy programs by $491 million--or 27 percent below the 
already abysmal FY2011 funding levels and 59 percent less than what 
President Obama requested.
  The bill also cuts funding for the Department of Energy's Advanced 
Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) by $88 million, which is 44 
percent below current levels and 81 percent less than requested. ARPA-E 
is modeled after the successful Defense Advanced Research Projects 
Agency (DARPA) which has been a catalyst in technological innovation 
since its creation in 1958.
  Together, these programs fund crucial research and development in a 
variety of renewable technologies with the goals of ending our national 
dependence on fossil fuels, more efficiently powering our homes and 
businesses, and lessening the cost of energy for families.
  These types of investments are incredibly important in my home state 
of Hawaii. We are the most oil dependent state in the nation--we must 
import 90 percent of the oil products that fuel our cars, homes, and 
businesses. So when the world markets that set the price of oil 
gyrates--as it has in recent months--our economic growth and quality of 
life are significantly impacted.
  So renewable energy isn't just a feel-good idea--it's an economic and 
national security imperative both for Hawaii and our nation's future. 
Cutting funds that provide incentives for the private sector to 
continue innovating and growing jobs in this sector may seem penny-
wise; but it is most certainly pound-foolish.
  I am also disappointed that this bill fails to make a real dent in 
our nation's water infrastructure needs. The American Society of Civil 
Engineers (ASCE) has given our nation's overall infrastructure a grade 
of ``D.'' ASCE also estimates that Hawaii needs $1.97 billion to meet 
our water infrastructure needs. While I understand the need to 
carefully prioritize how we spend precious federal dollars, I believe 
that infrastructure should be at the top of that priority list. 
Infrastructure investments create jobs, strengthen our communities, and 
improve public health.
  These are just two areas where this legislation fails to improve our 
economy, help rebuild the middle class, or lay the groundwork for our 
future prosperity. As a whole this bill is a disappointment, and I 
strongly oppose its passage.

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