Statements on Introduced Bills and Joint Resolutions

Floor Speech

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Mr. REED. Mr. President, today I am introducing the Electric Vehicle Grid, Improvement, and Development Act, which would take important steps to prepare our electric grid for the deployment of the electric vehicle charging infrastructure that is essential to meeting our climate goals.

Our Nation's dependence on fossil fuels has created serious challenges for our security, economy, and environment. The electrification of our transportation system will play a crucial role in confronting those challenges. Indeed, electric vehicles will help reduce our dependence on oil, lower carbon emissions and save Americans money at the pump.

The bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act took great strides in advancing the deployment of electric vehicles. The bill provided $15 billion for electric vehicles, including $7.5 billion to create a national network of electric vehicle charging stations. Of these funds, Rhode Island should receive $23 million for the deployment of new charging stations across the State.

Investments in electric vehicle charging infrastructure must be paired with grid readiness measures to ensure we can decarbonize as quickly as possible. To that end, the EV GRID Act would direct the Department of Energy to complete a study on the anticipated demand of electric vehicle charging infrastructure on our electric grid. It would also direct the Department, once the study is completed, to submit a plan with recommendations for policymakers to help the electric system meet demand.

This bill is critical to ensuring a smooth transition toward a cleaner, decarbonized transportation sector. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this commonsense legislation. ______

By Mr. DURBIN (for himself and Mr. Brown):

S. 4155. A bill to amend title 28, United States Code, to authorize extraterritorial jurisdiction; to the Committee on the Judiciary.

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