[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 166 (Thursday, September 24, 2020)]
[House]
[Page H4896]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       UPDATING AMERICA'S ENERGY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Arizona (Mr. O'Halleran) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. O'HALLERAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak in support of H.R. 
4447, the Clean Economy Jobs and Innovation Act. I am proud that that 
bill was used as a shell for this legislation.
  This legislative package is the work of over 40 critical pieces of 
energy and environment legislation from the House. Many of the bills 
included in this package are bipartisan, and I would like to thank our 
leadership, committee chairs, and Members on both sides of the aisle 
for contributing to this effort.
  This bill will take meaningful steps to update our energy 
infrastructure, create new jobs, and take important steps to address 
climate change in our country.
  The last major Federal effort to address our changing energy 
landscape occurred in 2007. The urgency of the climate crisis and 
energy infrastructure crisis cannot be overstated.
  As the proud Representative of Arizona's First Congressional 
District, and as seen throughout the Western United States and our 
Nation, communities are facing the effects of climate change every day. 
From larger, deadlier forest fires to crippling droughts, Arizonans 
know the real-life implications of our changing planet.
  This is why today's bill is so important. It addresses the growing 
climate crisis and revitalizes our sagging energy economy. It creates 
much-needed job growth across our Nation. It is a win-win-win.
  As Members of Congress, we must work in a bipartisan manner to 
identify commonsense policy solutions to these critical issues and help 
hardworking families find a just transition as our energy economy 
continues to evolve.
  The legislative package we are voting on today does more than just 
update our Nation's energy infrastructure. It creates tens of thousands 
of new, good-paying energy jobs that support a family and will be 
created through the new programs, initiatives, and Federal projects 
created within this bill to accelerate the deployment of clean energy 
technologies.
  We make meaningful investments in research and development programs 
to unlock the energy technologies of tomorrow, limit our carbon 
footprint, and preserve the environment for future generations to enjoy 
and prosper. We need to continue to identify legislative initiatives 
like the Clean Economy Jobs and Innovation Act that will work on a 
large scale to create new jobs in growing industries.
  I am humbled to see two bills I introduced, the Expanding Access to 
Sustainable Energy Act, and the Tribal Power Act, be included in 
today's critical legislative package. And I am proud to stand today in 
favor of the Clean Economy Jobs and Innovation Act.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in voting to pass this 
important legislation.

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