Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2015

Floor Speech

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Mrs. CAPITO. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Madam Chair, I rise in strong support of this Energy and Water Development Appropriations bill, which makes important investments in our communities, our energy jobs, and our Nation's energy future.

This bill prioritizes using abundant coal reserves to produce clean, efficient energy. I am very pleased that the bill makes a strong investment in fossil energy research and development, including work on clean coal technologies. I ask my colleagues to join me in opposing amendments that would strip this funding.

West Virginia is a leader in this technology, with the National Energy Technology Lab in Morgantown conducting much of this important research.

This administration has continued to attack coal and the people who rely on coal for energy and employment. This bill not only rejects the administration's 15 percent cut to fossil energy research, but sends a clear message: coal is, will be, and must be an important part of a national all-of-the-above strategy, and we will continue to invest in developing ways to make it more efficient and cleaner.

The Energy and Water Appropriations bill also rejects the Army Corps of Engineers' and the EPA's proposed rule to expand Federal jurisdiction under the Clean Water Act. Finally, this bill maintains funding for the Appalachian Regional Commission, underscoring its importance to local communities.

My State of West Virginia is the only State that is entirely within the boundaries of the ARC, and the people of West Virginia have truly benefited from the ARC's proven record of spurring economic development and of improving access to health care and education in lower-income communities.

I want to thank the chairman of the Appropriations Committee, Hal Rogers, and the chairman of the subcommittee, Mike Simpson, for bringing this piece of legislation to the floor, which makes the right choices and sets the right priorities for our country's energy future.

With that, I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill.

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