[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 84 (Wednesday, June 6, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E992-E993]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 
                                  2013

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. SUZANNE BONAMICI

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 5, 2012

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the state of 
     the Union had under

[[Page E993]]

     consideration the bill (H.R. 5325) making appropriations for 
     energy and water development and related agencies for the 
     fiscal year ending September 30, 2013, and for other 
     purposes:

  Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Chair, I am proud to support the Hirono-Chu-Matsui-
Lee-Carnahan Amendment to the Energy and Water appropriations bill. The 
amendment would maintain our commitment to the successful Advanced 
Research Projects Agency-Energy, or ARPA E as it is more commonly 
known.
  In March of this year, Energy Secretary Chu came before the Science, 
Space, and Technology Committee to discuss the Administration's budget 
request, which included an additional $75 million for ARPA E. I had the 
opportunity to speak with him about the importance of ARPA E and the 
effectiveness of the program as we seek to bring new technologies to 
market that change the way we generate, store, and use energy.
  I take a particular interest in ARPA E because in Oregon we have seen 
its benefits first hand. As a result of the program, a company by the 
name of ReVolt Technology actually relocated to our community and 
brought its amazing research--and jobs as well. In my discussion with 
Secretary Chu, he highlighted the effectiveness of ARPA E in leveraging 
private-sector investments stating that a $40 million federal 
investment has been leveraged to private-sector investments of more 
than $200 million.
  Keeping this in mind, I was dismayed to see that the underlying bill 
under consideration not only rejects the request for additional ARPA E 
investment, but seeks to cut $75 million in FY2013.
  As a member of the Budget Committee, I understand the need to get our 
fiscal house in order. But we have a responsibility to do so in a 
strategic manner to ensure that we do not undermine our future security 
and competitiveness. It is precisely this recognition that makes the 
Hirono-Chu-Matsui-Lee-Carnahan Amendment so important.
  This amendment addresses the lopsided priorities in the underlying 
bill in a reasonable and balanced way. It seeks to meet the 
Administration's request for the fossil fuels research and development, 
and uses the difference to support ARPA E. This would provide roughly 
$333 million for ARPA E, a modest increase over FY2012.
  This is amendment takes a fair approach, balancing today's energy 
research needs with the promise of tomorrow's technologies, and the 
jobs and economic benefits that go along with them.
  I commend my colleagues for their work on this amendment.

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