[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 208 (Wednesday, December 9, 2020)]
[House]
[Pages H7067-H7068]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
RELIABLE INVESTMENT IN VITAL ENERGY REAUTHORIZATION ACT
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 3361) to amend the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to reauthorize
hydroelectric production incentives and hydroelectric efficiency
improvement incentives, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 3361
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Reliable Investment in Vital
Energy Reauthorization Act'' or the ``RIVER Act''.
SEC. 2. HYDROELECTRIC PRODUCTION INCENTIVES AND EFFICIENCY
IMPROVEMENTS.
(a) Hydroelectric Production Incentives.--Section 242 of
the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15881) is amended--
(1) in subsection (c), by striking ``10'' and inserting
``22'';
[[Page H7068]]
(2) in subsection (e)(2), by striking ``section
29(d)(2)(B)'' and inserting ``section 45K(d)(2)(B)'';
(3) in subsection (f), by striking ``20'' and inserting
``32''; and
(4) in subsection (g), by striking ``each of the fiscal
years 2006 through 2015'' and inserting ``each of fiscal
years 2019 through 2036''.
(b) Hydroelectric Efficiency Improvement.--Section 243(c)
of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15882(c)) is
amended by striking ``each of the fiscal years 2006 through
2015'' and inserting ``each of fiscal years 2019 through
2036''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New
Jersey (Mr. Pallone) and the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Walden) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey.
General Leave
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks
and include extraneous material on H.R. 3361.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from New Jersey?
There was no objection.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3361, the Reliable
Investment in Vital Energy Reauthorization Act, or the RIVER Act. This
bipartisan bill was introduced by Representatives McKinley, Tonko, and
Loebsack.
Hydropower is a vital part of our clean energy portfolio, and the
RIVER Act reauthorizes important hydroelectric production incentives
established in the Energy Policy Act of 2005. The RIVER Act extends
incentives that provide payments to owners or operators of
hydroelectric facilities that are added to existing dams or conduits.
Additionally, it reauthorizes efficiency improvement payments for
improving facility efficiency.
I support this legislation, Mr. Speaker. I thank my colleagues for
their hard work on the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. WALDEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3361. This is the Reliable
Investment in Vital Energy Reauthorization Act.
This legislation was introduced by my colleagues on the Energy and
Commerce Committee, Mr. McKinley and Mr. Tonko, to reauthorize the
Hydroelectric Production Incentive and hydropower efficiency
improvement programs at the Department of Energy.
This legislation went through regular order, and it passed the full
committee, Energy and Commerce, by a voice vote.
H.R. 3361 would authorize payments to support the development of
hydropower production at existing dams and conduits. Literally, Mr.
Speaker, there are thousands of existing dams in the United States that
can support hydropower production while avoiding the costs and
environmental effects associated with building new dams.
In addition to affordable and renewable energy, hydropower also
provides ancillary services to stabilize the electric grid, to provide
storage, to maintain emergency black-start capability.
I am proud to support H.R. 3361, which would reauthorize these really
important Department of Energy programs and will ensure access to
renewable, carbon-free, affordable hydropower for years to come.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in voting ``yes'' on
H.R. 3361, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I have no speakers on this side, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. WALDEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from West
Virginia (Mr. McKinley), an engineer by trade, a terrific legislator,
an important member of our committee, and the sponsor of this
legislation.
Mr. McKINLEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3361, the RIVER Act, and thank
Chairman Tonko and Congressman Loebsack for working with us in a
bipartisan way on this important legislation.
This RIVER Act reauthorizes key hydropower production and efficiency
incentives through 2036. Boosting hydropower production will ensure
that Americans have access to affordable, clean energy.
As Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers has previously noted on
numerous occasions, only 3 percent of America's 91,000 dams generate
electricity because in part it takes 10 years to get a permit to
develop new hydropower projects.
This bill will help streamline and develop utilizing existing
infrastructure and overcome barriers to future projects.
I urge my colleagues to support the RIVER Act.
Mr. Speaker, I ask a point of personal privilege to address my
esteemed chairman.
Mr. Speaker, I say to my ranking member and my former chairman,
colleague, since I came here 10 years ago, coming from the business
sector nearly 50 years in private practice in the business of
engineering, I have been so impressed with the leadership we have had
in Energy and Commerce. It wasn't what I was expecting. You and Fred,
and even to some extent my friend, Frank, to some extent--Frank, don't
get carried away here.
I have seen you taking on some difficult issues and using humor, your
approach, you have been able to work through some difficult situations
coming up with solutions. So you are going to be missed. You and Mylene
have earned the break. But I think of all the legislation.
You have been in my house. You have come to West Virginia--``West by
God Virginia''--and I do appreciate what you have done for us, what you
have done on the opioid epidemic. It is still ravaging West Virginia
and across this country.
People have to understand that in West Virginia more people are going
to die from opioids than from COVID this year. This is still a problem,
but thanks to you, we are moving in the right direction.
I can't express enough how much you have meant to me in my career and
my confidence. The people's House has been in good hands under you, and
I very much appreciate your service. God bless all of you as you
continue in your retirement.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I have no additional speakers, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. WALDEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, to my friend from West Virginia, it has been a great
honor. It has been an honor and great privilege to serve with you, and
I have always appreciated your leadership, your great insights, your
keen intellect as we have addressed these issues, especially on this
issue of opioids. I don't think there was a more passionate player on
the committee, a more engaged and informed member of the committee on
this matter than you.
And the citizens of West Virginia and, indeed, the citizens of all
America, Mr. Speaker, have a lot to say thank you to Mr. McKinley for
and others in this body certainly, for the legislation we passed into
law.
We know there is more work to do, and while I may be leaving, I know
Mr. McKinley is only going to double down on that effort going forward.
Mr. Speaker, this is good legislation that Mr. McKinley and Mr. Tonko
have brought before us. I urge passage of this bill, and I yield back
the balance of my time.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I would also urge support for this bill,
and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) that the House suspend the
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3361.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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