Ellison Statement On Energy And Water Spending Bill

Statement

Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN), Co-Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and Chief Deputy Whip, released the following statement after the House of Representatives passed the FY2014 Energy and Water Appropriations Act, a bill that sets the level of federal government spending on advanced energy initiatives like renewable energy and civil works projects like flood control.

"If we are to effectively combat climate change, create jobs and prime our economy for the future, the United States must invest in projects and programs that look forward. Renewable energy is the future. This bill is stuck in the past.

"The 2014 Energy and Water Appropriations Act reduces investment in renewable energy projects by $971 million and cuts spending on environmental cleanup activities by $243 million. The bill slashes funding for groundbreaking research and innovation by 81 percent, a cut that will cripple our nation's effort to lead the world towards reliable and renewable sources of energy. It also fails to address the effects of across-the-board budget cuts known as the sequester that will force the Department of Energy to layoff and furlough employees and forego filling 300 new job openings.

"The energy and water spending bill passed by Republicans yesterday invests like it's 1970. The American economy needs investment that is focused on tomorrow."

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