Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2015
Floor Speech
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Ms. CANTWELL. Mr. President, we are about to vote on the Energy Modernization Act of 2016. I know my colleague, the chairwoman of the committee from Alaska, will probably like to close debate. So I would like to a take a few minutes before that vote this morning to again thank all of our colleagues for their diligent consideration of this legislation.
We will be passing the first Energy bill since 2007. This Energy bill will be the first one in 9 years. It is a modernization of our energy system that is so desperately needed because it focuses on cleaner, more efficient, more renewable sources of energy that is more cost- effective for the consumer. It does this by modernizing the grid, making investments in advanced storage technology, smart buildings, composite materials, and vehicle batteries. It improves cyber security and helps plan for the workforce we need for tomorrow.
I urge my colleagues to make sure this legislation passes. I want to say that yesterday, we substantially improved this legislation-- particularly with the inclusion of both the public lands package that includes the Yakima River Basin Bill from the State of Washington; as well as the bipartisan SAVE Act--which will help homeowners recognize the investments they make in energy efficiency so they can benefit from it when they are ready to sell their homes.
I think yesterday's efforts helped improve this legislation, but all of this would not be possible without the staff and the support of so many people. I thank Angela Becker-Dippman, Sam Fowler, David Brooks, Rebecca Bonner, Rosemarie Calabro Tully, John Davis, Benjamin Drake, David Gillers, Rich Glick, Spencer Gray, Sa'Rah Hamm, Aisha Johnson, Faye Matthews, Scott McKee, Casey Neal, Bryan Petit, David Poyer, Betsy Rosenblatt, Sam Siegler, Bradley Sinkaus, Carolyn Sloan, Rory Stanley, Melanie Stansbury, Al Stayman, Nick Sutter, Stephanie Teich-McGoldrick, Brie Van Cleve, and of course I thank Colin Hayes and Karen Billups from the majority staff who have worked so hard on this legislation as well.
As I said, the improvements we are making in this bill help us reach the goals that have been outlined in the Quadrennial Energy Review. Department of Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz helped us on this legislation, clearly calling for the type of 21st century energy infrastructure investments that will help our country remain economically competitive in the future. It also will help us train the 1.5 million new workers we will need, over the next 15 years.
I should say, one of the provisions we were so happy to defeat amendments on yesterday was preserving the Land and Water Conservation Fund. The Land and Water Conservation Fund is one of the preeminent programs in our country for preserving open space at a time when our country continues to develop. It has been a program that has nurtured that very important need for all of us to be outdoors, and it has also helped to build an outdoor economy.
So we are saying to the American public this is a program we believe should be made permanent, particularly after last September's lapse and successfully renewing it for just a couple of years. It is time to say the Land and Water Conservation Fund, a program that has been around since the 1960s, should be made permanent.
I thank everyone again for their work on this legislation. I hope we get a resounding vote out of the Senate and a quick conference with the House of Representatives so we can plan for America's energy future in a more effective, streamlined way, and we can then realize the opportunity to help our businesses and consumers plan for the energy future.
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