Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2016

Floor Speech

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Mr. Chairman, I rise to offer an amendment which will help reduce the large backlog of important Army Corps of Engineers projects.

This amendment transfers $1 million from the Department of Energy's Departmental administration budget to the Corps of Engineers' investigations budget to bring it closer to the fiscal year 2015 enacted appropriation level.

The investigation account funds the planning and environmental studies required under law for important Corps projects prior to construction. There is a large backlog of worthwhile Corps projects throughout the country that are essential to improving infrastructures for communities, improving ecosystem restoration, providing clean water, and expanding much-needed water storage. These projects are especially critical to the drought-stricken communities in the West and many other parts of the Nation.

The committee showed great insight in recognizing that the administration's request for the Corps' investigation budget was much too low. Having said that, the amount appropriated in this bill is still $12 million below the fiscal year 2015 levels. At a time of historic drought and major water challenges, we shouldn't be reducing investigation dollars that will allow worthwhile community projects to move forward.

The committee has provided significant safeguards in the report to ensure the funds transferred by this amendment will go to the studies in planning for the most viable projects. Thus, support for this amendment is a definitive action we can take to directly support timely development of critical infrastructure projects.

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Mr. Chairman, I rise to offer another commonsense amendment that will help reduce the large backlog of important Army Corps of Engineers' projects by providing additional resources to the Corps' construction budget.

I applaud the committee for recommending resources for the Corps of Engineers' construction budget above the President's budget request, but the recommended level in this bill for construction is still $8.5 million beneath the fiscal year 2015 level.

A devastating drought is currently plaguing the West. CRS estimates that more than 93 percent of the State of California is experiencing severe drought. Other scientists have claimed this is the worst drought for some Western States in more than 100 years and that approximately 60 percent of the West is ``experiencing moderate drought or worse, affecting 52 million people.''

At a time of historic drought and major water challenges, we shouldn't be reducing construction dollars for Corps projects that improve infrastructure for local communities, improve ecosystem restoration, provide clean water, and expand much-needed water storage.

The committee report on this bill raised some important concerns about the draconian cuts proposed by this administration to the Corps of Engineers' construction budget.

From the committee report: ``The construction account would see the largest dollar reduction ($467,489,000) and largest percentage reduction (29 percent) ..... As mentioned above, the budget request is woefully inadequate for meeting the critical water resource infrastructure needs of this Nation. Numerous continuing studies and construction projects will be suspended or slowed, leaving many communities vulnerable to floods and coastal storms longer than necessary and hindering economic growth and international competitiveness ..... Once again, the administration's claims to understand the importance of infrastructure ring hollow when it comes to water resource infrastructure investments ..... Once again, however, the committee rejects the low priority placed on infrastructure in the budget request.''

The committee has provided significant safeguards in the report that will ensure that the funds transferred by this amendment go to the best projects, including those that will prevent future flooding and storm damage, create jobs, and enhance national, regional, or local economic development.

Support for this amendment is definitive action that we can take to directly support timely development of critical water projects that benefit communities throughout the Nation.

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Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment which seeks to ensure the adequate resources for the Department of Energy's inspector general's office.

As a member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, I am a firm believer in oversight of the Federal Government. The more sunlight on Federal activity, the more honest and efficient it will be. I am also a strong proponent of our inspector general community.

Since the Inspector General Act was passed into law, the IG community has saved taxpayers billions of dollars and has uncovered countless examples of wrongdoing in the Federal Government.

I just read a GAO investigation report yesterday that found that loans currently in the Department of Energy portfolio are expected to cost the taxpayers more than $2.2 billion. The report went on to state that $807 million of the $2.2 billion is a result of bad loans that have already defaulted. In fact, five major DOE loans have already defaulted from the agency's 2014 portfolio.

The report also noted that the cost to the taxpayers from these flawed DOE loans could even exceed the $2.2 billion estimated figure. ``The final credit subsidy cost of a given loan or loan guarantee will not be known until the life of the loan is complete ..... Both DOE loan programs can expose the government and taxpayers to substantial financial risk if borrowers default.''

Further, this committee noted in the committee report accompanying this bill: ``The committee is also concerned that the Department is failing in its responsibility to ensure that DOE contracts with incurred costs valued at billions of dollars per year are audited in a timely manner.''

Clearly, there is a lack of oversight and accountability within DOE that needs to change. It is the responsibility of the DOE inspector general to report to Congress on these issues so that we can rectify these problems and ensure taxpayers aren't exposed to another Solyndra.

I applaud the committee for recommending resources above and beyond last year's enacted levels, but the recommended level is still beneath the President's budget request.

Let's give the inspector general's office the resources it needs. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support the passage of this commonsense amendment.

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