[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 87 (Tuesday, May 23, 2023)]
[House]
[Pages H2507-H2508]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      LEADING IN RENEWABLE ENERGY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
California (Ms. Kamlager-Dove) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. KAMLAGER-DOVE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to applaud how the 
Inflation Reduction Act is delivering for our country and California's 
37th Congressional District.
  I am proud of the work that California has already done to be a 
leader in renewable energy. With key investments from the Inflation 
Reduction Act, our country can benefit from a clean energy market that 
puts our workers first and brings the United States into the 21st 
century.
  The passage of the Inflation Reduction Act has already created $242 
billion in new investments with $5.45 billion announced in my State 
alone for clean energy and manufacturing projects.
  It has already created 142,000 new jobs across 41 States: red, blue, 
and purple. The IRA is projected to create 9 million new, good-paying 
jobs for Americans over the next decade, but that is not all it will 
do.
  It will help us achieve our climate goals, boost clean technology 
manufacturing, make EVs more accessible and affordable, ensure families 
breathe clean air and drink clean water, and make gains toward 
environmental justice for historically forgotten communities.
  What does this look like for my community?
  It is funding for air quality monitoring grants in historically 
disadvantaged communities, clean schoolbuses for our children, and low-
emission public transportation in Los Angeles.
  After years of insufficient Federal action to address our climate 
crisis, Democrats came together to enact this historic law, and we 
cannot go back.
  Unfortunately, Republicans prefer to help their corporate polluter 
friends roll back environmental safeguards and are currently working to 
use our economy as a bargaining chip to erase major clean energy 
provisions in the IRA through debt limit discussions.
  If the Speaker and his ultra-MAGA colleagues got their way, they 
would inflict dire consequences on our efforts to stop the worst of 
climate change from happening.
  They would end renewable energy credits for wind and solar, limit 
rooftop solar growth in homes and businesses, stop the expansion of 
electric vehicle sales and EV charging stations, repeal funding for 
low-income communities that was intended to address pollution, and 
repeal the Methane Emissions Reduction Program.
  These are investments in clean energy that have largely benefited 
Republican districts, even though they won't admit it, and Republican 
actions today will take away the wealth and economic opportunity from 
everyday American households.
  This law is our strongest chance to create a safer, healthier Nation 
for our

[[Page H2508]]

children and families and regain credibility with allies around the 
world.
  We cannot allow Republicans to take us back to a time where fossil 
fuels and toxic policy decisions hold hostage our health and economy. 
Congress must pass a clean debt limit increase now.


             Recognizing May as National Foster Care Month

  Ms. KAMLAGER-DOVE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize May as 
National Foster Care Month. Nearly 500,000 children fall under the care 
of our foster system.
  As overseers of their welfare, Congress has a sacred duty to support 
these children and those who work tirelessly on their behalf to ensure 
that they have safe and loving homes.
  Our child welfare system is in desperate need of reform. We must have 
supportive policies that fairly compensate social workers and invest in 
the needs of our children.
  Supporting the growth and development of a child and giving them safe 
shelter are incredibly important tasks that have fallen by the wayside.
  Foster youth are feeling the economic impacts of the COVID-19 
pandemic, alongside the disparities they face in education, healthcare, 
and employment.
  This is why I joined my colleagues in the Caucus on Foster Youth to 
introduce a resolution to recognize the month of May as National Foster 
Care Month.
  I will continue to raise awareness around our foster care system and 
the work of selfless social workers and advocates.
  If we want to talk about adoption and providing for our children, we 
must take a real and lasting look at the problems we are facing and 
come together to work on solutions.

                          ____________________