Lower Energy Costs Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. VEASEY. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to call attention to how Republicans' polluters energy package will do little of nothing to finally--and I have to censor my poster here, Mr. Chairman--fix the grid once and for all.

In February 2021, my own State of Texas had a catastrophic grid failure during a deadly winter storm that caused 246 deaths and left 5 million people in record cold temperatures without heat and businesses without power. Last summer, Texans again had to deal with the dangerous and unexpected generation failures that put further strain on our State's electric grid. These extreme weather events are not unique to Texas.

Despite these continued problems of grid resiliency, the Republican- led package we are voting on will do little of nothing to actually fix the grid.

It is, in fact, harmful. It is hyperpartisan. This package will make the grid less stable. We need to make investments in electric transmissions to meet our energy needs, create good-paying jobs, and have cleaner air to breathe.

This package will do little to address the lower energy costs for people across north Texas. Not only will it not help constituents pay their energy bills, but CBO estimates that this bill will actually increase the deficit over the 2023-2033 period by roughly $2.4 billion.

That is why I urge my Republican colleagues to stop putting polluters over people and meet us in the middle to pass a bipartisan, comprehensive solution that bolsters our Nation's energy independence, helps the middle class, and finally fixes the grid.

Fix the grid, Mr. Chairman.

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