Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2016

Floor Speech

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Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, I concur with my colleague from Michigan, Senator Stabenow. We urge our colleagues to vote no on the Coats amendment. This is part of a very carefully crafted amendment to deal with water infrastructure around the country, and in particular Flint.

I think this will be a win-win for those folks who may want to see this program go away. We have a plan to do that while also dealing with an incredibly important issue not only for our State but that is also incredibly important to other States across the country.

I urge a ``no'' vote.

I thank the Senator for yielding the floor.

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Mr. PETERS. Madam President, I would certainly urge all of my colleagues to oppose the Coats amendment. What this does is eliminate a program that basically pays for a very carefully crafted agreement on which we are working to deal with the Flint water issue, as well as water infrastructure issues all across this country. This is part of the proposal Senator Stabenow and I have been working on and have been building support.

We are looking to move to this very shortly to deal with this broad issue. A vote against this amendment allows us to continue to move forward with a bipartisan plan, critical for our whole country.

I yield my remaining time to the senior Senator from Michigan.
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Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, I rise today to discuss the bipartisan Energy Policy Modernization Act, which passed the Senate yesterday with my strong support. This bill will help improve the energy efficiency of our buildings and appliances, saving Michiganders money on their heating and electric bills by incentivizing weatherization and other activities. Many of these cutting-edge building efficiency technologies, such as insulation and window sealing, are designed and developed in my great State of Michigan.

The bill also included a number of conservation provisions that will not only protect our environment, but they will boost our economy by supporting the $646 billion outdoor recreation industry. Permanent authorizations of the Land and Water Conservation Fund and reauthorization of the North American Wetland Conservation Act are just two examples that will protect wildlife habitat and improve access to public lands for all kinds of outdoor recreation.

Mr. President, I would also like to take a moment to focus on a bipartisan provision that I authored with my colleagues Senator Stabenow and Senator Alexander, the Vehicle Innovation Act. This legislation will provide the tools that researchers, engineers, manufacturers, and others need to create the next generation of cars and trucks built in Michigan and in States all across our country.

Southeast Michigan is home to more engineers per capita than anywhere else in the country. We must ensure that our automakers, part suppliers, and other advanced manufacturers have the right tools to develop and incorporate new vehicle innovations that will improve safety, innovation, and vehicle performance in the cars and trucks of the future.

Exciting innovations are already underway. Cars and trucks are being made with high-strength, light-weight materials that can improve fuel economy without compromising safety. Improved combustion technologies can increase the efficiency of traditional engines while decreasing emissions. Researchers are making batteries more affordable and recyclable while enhancing battery range and performance, making hybrids and electric vehicles even more competitive.

The Department of Energy's Vehicle Technologies Program is leading this effort, working with a wide range of partners, manufacturers, material suppliers, universities, energy suppliers, and our National Laboratories. The Department of Energy's vehicle technology activities are authorized by a patchwork of different laws, and these authorities were last renewed almost a decade ago. A lot has changed in that time. Vehicles today are wired with cutting-edge electronics and sensors.

While my favorite part of Detroit cars and trucks remains horsepower and torque, advances in onboard computers and new technologies are making our cars safer, more efficient, and more competitive globally.

The Peters-Alexander-Stabenow Vehicle Innovation Act provides for a steady increase in funding for critical DOE programs through the year 2020. This will create more certainty for companies and entrepreneurs engaged in public-private partnerships and ensure that critical research and development can keep up as technologies continue to emerge.

Our bill also establishes a clean authorization for DOE's advanced vehicle technology activities. This will improve collaboration with light-duty automobile and medium- and heavy-duty commercial truck engineers, manufacturers, and suppliers to conduct cutting-edge technology-neutral research that will improve fuel economy and minimize fossil fuel use.

With over 256 million vehicles on our roads, it takes decades of sustained effort to turn over our fleet. It is absolutely critical that we continue developing these advanced technologies here in the United States in order to achieve major fuel savings in the future and become truly energy independent.

The Vehicle Innovation Act has support from major manufacturers, labor, and environmental groups. This is something that just makes sense. I appreciate the support of Senators Murkowski and Cantwell and all my colleagues who supported including this legislation in the bipartisan energy package. While I was pleased to see this commonsense measure included, I continue to be frustrated and disappointed that this body has held up an up-or-down vote on a bipartisan package authored by Senator Stabenow and me to help the people of Flint, MI.

Flint is still in crisis mode as families still do not have safe, reliable water flowing from their taps. Senator Stabenow and I will continue pursuing all paths to fight for the assistance that the people of Flint deserve. We will not give up. We remain fully committed to delivering to Flint families the assistance they need to be able to use their tap water for bathing, cooking, and drinking without the fear that it may harm them or their children.

I know that many of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle are willing and able to join us in our efforts to help Flint. I urge them to continue working with us to pass this package through the Senate as soon as possible. The people of Flint cannot wait any longer.

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