[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 51 (Friday, March 22, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page S2556]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                              Clean Energy

  Mr. President, on clean jobs, it has not even been 2 years since 
President Biden and Democrats made historic investments in our 
infrastructure, clean jobs, and advanced manufacturing, and already we 
see ribbon-cuttings, factory openings, and a boom in clean energy 
investment.
  But this week House Republicans are pushing a number of bogus and 
nasty bills that would undo all the hard work we have done to create 
more jobs in clean energy while doubling down on giveaways to Big Oil.
  One bill pushed by House Republicans would force taxpayers to pay 
more for the mess of oil and gas companies on public lands by repealing 
an IRA rule requiring companies to pay a fair rate to lease America's 
public resources.
  At a time when Big Oil is seeing record profits and Big Oil is 
consolidated so there is very little competition, House Republicans 
want to gift them even more giveaways, while making taxpayers pick up 
the tab.
  A number of other bills Republicans are pushing would outright repeal 
many of the job-creating investments in the IRA. That is terrible 
because the law is working so, so well. Last year, we saw $240 billion 
in clean energy investment, triple the level of 2019. These investments 
and these good-paying jobs are what Republicans are trying to take 
away.
  America is leading the world in our transition to clean energy. We 
are creating lots of jobs, good-paying jobs, along the way. But the 
MAGA Republicans, fatally beholden to the Big Oil and Big Coal lobbies 
are pushing to kill clean jobs, kill these historic investments, and 
extinguish years of future potential prosperity to the communities they 
represent. Shame on them.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. McCONNELL. I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum 
call be rescinded.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.