America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2015

Floor Speech

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Mr. LOUDERMILK. Mr. Chairman, I rise to oppose this amendment to H.R. 1806 because I support research that will enhance both the economic security and the energy security of the United States.

The original America COMPETES Act, which established the Advanced Research Projects Agency within the Department of Energy, ARPA-E, required the agency to only pursue projects that reduce greenhouse gases. The bill before us today, the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act, allows any advanced energy technology that could enhance U.S. economic and energy security to compete for ARPA-E funding. This levels the playing field and ensures that ARPA-E funds research with the greatest potential to have a positive impact on the American economy.

The COMPETES Act provides a balanced approach to ARPA-E by reprioritizing funding towards innovative projects that are truly in need of Federal research dollars. The bill also removes restrictions that allow the administration to play favorites in the energy sector. However, this amendment would strike the language which expands the ARPA-E project eligibility. As a result, this amendment would then limit innovative research and development.

With all of the national security challenges we face today, from terrorism, to cybersecurity breaches, to our skyrocketing national debt, we should focus our attention on broadening our energy base and achieving energy independence, not limiting ourselves to one small area of environmental science. I believe we must adopt an all-of-the-above energy strategy that improves our energy security and emphasizes all energy opportunities, including those which reduce greenhouse gases.

Congress should not put in place arbitrary limits on innovation that will prevent groundbreaking technologies from across the energy sector from participating in ARPA-E programs. I urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment.

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