[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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