[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 10]
[House]
[Page 14474]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                                SOLYNDRA

  (Mr. BURGESS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, just before we left last week, two 
executives from a company called Solyndra came before the Energy and 
Commerce Committee voluntarily, but ultimately did not testify, 
invoking their Fifth Amendment rights.
  Most Americans by now are becoming aware of the Solyndra story, a 
company that was initially denied a loan guarantee in the last days of 
the Bush administration but was hastily added to a list of projects 
that were covered by what was called the stimulus bill in February of 
2009. In a rush to get the money out the door--ahead of a photo op with 
the Vice President--apparently mistakes were made, and in the early 
days of September of this year Solyndra filed bankruptcy. This is a 
story that is yet to be completely understood. But, Mr. Speaker, here's 
the important part:
  For almost 6 months' time, between February and July, the Committee 
on Energy and Commerce sought, unsuccessfully, to have records 
delivered to it from the Office of Management and Budget and the 
Department of Energy. It should not take a subpoena from a 
congressional committee for branches of the executive branch to supply 
us those documents. When we have questions, they need to respond. When 
we ask for information, they need to produce. And certainly, when we 
have a hearing, they need to attend.
  It's time for the Secretary of Energy to come before our committee, 
explain what he knew about this process, and clear the air once and for 
all for the American people.

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