Rep. Swalwell Leads Letter of 75 Members Calling for Robust Funding of DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Representative Eric Swalwell (CA-15), Ranking Member of the Science, Space & Technology Energy Subcommittee, coordinated a letter signed by 75 Members of Congress to the House Appropriations Committee urging robust and sustained funding for the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE). This office leads the federal government's innovative work in renewable electricity generation, sustainable transportation, and energy-saving technologies for businesses and homes.
"Even in a tight fiscal environment made even more difficult by the irresponsible sequester, we can't lose sight of the smart investments that will enable us to lead the world in the search for better, safer, more affordable energy," said Swalwell. "I am proud that 75 Members joined me in prioritizing funding for EERE, a strategic investment to reduce our dependence on foreign sources of energy, enhance our competitiveness and create good American jobs."
Below is the text of the letter and the signatories:
April 16, 2013
The Honorable Rodney Frelinghuysen
Energy and Water Development Appropriations Subcommittee
Chairman House Appropriations Committee
2362-B Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
The Honorable Marcy Kaptur
Ranking Member Energy and Water Development Appropriations Subcommittee
House Appropriations Committee
1016 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Chairman Frelinghuysen and Ranking Member Kaptur:
As you begin work on the fiscal year (FY) 2014 Energy and Water appropriations bill, we write to express strong support for robust and sustained funding for the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) and its critical programs that partner the federal government with industry, academia, and research facilities to secure America's energy future.
The fiscal challenges facing this nation are serious and we support efforts to be fiscally prudent. But, to do so, we must set priorities and make smart, strategic decisions about federal funding. That is why funding for the DOE EERE must be a priority in FY 2014. We must ensure that this country is prepared for whatever changes the markets may experience. An overreliance on a limited range of fuel technologies and finite resources is shortsighted – our strength lays in our ability to transition to new, cleaner, more sustainable and more innovative sources of energy. We must be competitive and not let ourselves get left behind.
EERE's research, development, and deployment programs focus on three major fields: renewable electricity generation; sustainable transportation; and energy-saving homes, buildings, and manufacturing. EERE plays a key role in advancing America's "all of the above" energy strategy, leading a large network of researchers and other partners to deliver innovative technologies that will make renewable electricity generation cost-competitive with traditional sources of energy.
The United States should be leading the world in the search for better, safer, more affordable energy. By prioritizing funding for DOE EERE, Congress will be signaling to our scientists and engineers at home and around the world that we are serious about rising to meet the growing demand for cheaper, more sustainable energy. By preserving our capacity to innovate, we will continue to reduce our dependence on foreign sources of energy, enhance our competitiveness and create good American jobs well into the future. For these reasons, we urge you to make strong and sustained funding for the DOE EERE one of your highest priorities in FY 2014.
Sincerely,
Eric Swalwell Member of Congress
Donald M. Payne, Jr.
Member of Congress
Ann McLane Kuster
Member of Congress
Jackie Speier
Member of Congress
David Scott
Member of Congress
Anna Eshoo
Member of Congress
William Keating
Member of Congress
Janice Hahn
Member of Congress
Marc Veasey
Member of Congress
Denny Heck
Member of Congress
Kathy Castor
Member of Congress
Jim Langevin
Member of Congress
Frederica S. Wilson
Member of Congress
Joaquin Castro
Member of Congress
Colleen Hanabusa
Member of Congress
Mark Pocan
Member of Congress
Dina Titus
Member of Congress
Gerald Connolly
Member of Congress
Tulsi Gabbard
Member of Congress
Elizabeth Esty
Member of Congress
Loretta Sanchez
Member of Congress
Jerry McNerney
Member of Congress
Joseph P. Kennedy, III
Member of Congress
Kyrsten Sinema
Member of Congress
Sander Levin
Member of Congress
Zoe Lofgren
Member of Congress
Ed Perlmutter
Member of Congress
Alan Lowenthal
Member of Congress
Earl Blumenauer
Member of Congress
Robert Scott
Member of Congress
Rush Holt
Member of Congress
Bill Foster
Member of Congress
Raul Ruiz
Member of Congress
Ami Bera
Member of Congress
Matthew Cartwright
Member of Congress
Mark Takano
Member of Congress
Donna Christensen
Member of Congress
Patrick Murphy
Member of Congress
David Loebsack
Member of Congress
Niki Tsongas
Member of Congress
Jared Huffman
Member of Congress
Dan Lipinski
Member of Congress
Bill Enyart
Member of Congress
Tony Cardenas
Member of Congress
Raul Grijalva
Member of Congress
Judy Chu
Member of Congress
Carol Shea-Porter
Member of Congress
Gary Peters
Member of Congress
Chris Van Hollen
Member of Congress
Beto O'Rourke
Member of Congress
Corrine Brown
Member of Congress
Rick Larsen
Member of Congress
Lois Capps
Member of Congress
Henry C. "Hank" Johnson
Member of Congress
Bruce Braley
Member of Congress
Barbara Lee
Member of Congress
Peter Welch
Member of Congress
Alcee Hastings
Member of Congress
Jan Schakowsky
Member of Congress
Scott Peters
Member of Congress
George Miller
Member of Congress
Jim Moran
Member of Congress
Adam Smith
Member of Congress
Bobby Rush
Member of Congress
Joe Courtney
Member of Congress
Charles Rangel
Member of Congress
Steve Cohen
Member of Congress
Rosa DeLauro
Member of Congress
C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger
Member of Congress
John Conyers, Jr.
Member of Congress
Doris Matsui
Member of Congress
John Sarbanes
Member of Congress
Ben Ray Lujan
Member of Congress
Andre Carson
Member of Congress
Paul Tonko
Member of Congress
Louise Slaughter
Member of Congress