Rodney Frelinghuysen

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. I yield to the gentleman from Ohio.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. The gentleman from Ohio is correct. As the committee states in the report accompanying H.R. 2354, we believe solid oxide fuel cell systems have the potential to substantially increase the efficiency of clean coal power generation systems, to create new opportunities for the efficient use of natural gas, and to contribute significantly to the development of alternative fuel vehicles.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. I want to assure the gentleman from Ohio of my agreement with the economic, environmental, and energy security benefits of this technology and that I will work to maintain this already reduced funding level as the Energy and Water Development appropriations bill moves forward.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. I yield back the balance of my time. Amendment No. 21 Offered by Mr. Luetkemeyer

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, I support the amendment of the gentleman from Texas. I am pleased to do so.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Let me thank the gentleman for his amendment and tell him that I'm pleased to accept it. I know that you included the fact that you wouldn't have to tell the ranking of the important purpose of your amendment. I also share those same sentiments. We don't want to degrade the purposes for the harbor maintenance fund from the express purposes now. There are too many priorities that are out there. We don't need to expand them. I'm very pleased to lend my support. I yield to the gentleman from Indiana.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. I reserve a point of order on the gentleman's amendment.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. I do.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. I rise in opposition to the gentleman's amendment.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. I rise in opposition to the gentleman's amendment. But may I say I have always found him to be very thoughtful and considerate, and I know that he is extremely knowledgeable about this and is committed to the whole issue of taking a look at these types of loan guarantees. When we put together our bill, we had several guiding principles, and chief among them was to get the Federal Government out of the private sector's way. You should understand that. The loan guarantee program is at the heart of that debate, and our bill begins to ramp down this temporary program while including funding to help new technologies so that the private sector could take them over. The gentleman's amendment, however, appears to dictate which technology should receive funding through this program and which should not. Mr. Chairman, responsible private sector entities have sunk literally hundreds of millions of dollars into their applications; and this amendment would, I think, potentially cut off those applicants, despite their investments in good faith efforts. And even more importantly, however, the amendment would determine which technologies win and which would lose. I don't think in our committee or in this Congress we should be determining the winners and losers. We should let the market decide. So I would ask my colleagues to oppose the amendment. I yield back the balance of my time. Point of Order

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, I do insist on my point of order.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, I make a point of order against the amendment because it proposes to change existing law and constitutes legislation in an appropriation bill and therefore violates clause 2 of rule XXI. The rule states in pertinent part: ``An amendment to a general appropriation bill shall not be in order if changing existing law.'' The amendment requires a new determination. I ask for a ruling from the Chair.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the gentleman's amendment.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. As I said earlier, respectfully, I still think this amendment, as with the previous one, is an issue where we are determining winners and losers, and I believe the market should decide. Let me say, the committee is strongly supportive of the whole issue of development of small, modular nuclear reactors, and it is amazing how much interest there is out there. There is incredible ingenuity that is going into it. We do have support for nuclear loan guarantees. I think there is $11 billion in unused funds and $6 billion for fossil fuels. We have money available for the development of these types of technologies which hopefully you will find to be reassuring. But for reasons I said earlier, without repeating myself again, I oppose your amendment at this time. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. I agree with the gentleman about the importance of projects that develop new, extraordinarily beneficial technologies that would never be developed without Federal investment. It is critical that we maintain a national investment in activities at the Department of Energy that protect our country's security and competitiveness. The Building Technologies Program at the Department of Energy has played a significant role in developing technologies that are too risky for the private sector to invest in alone and that will substantially reduce energy costs for American homes and businesses. The government's role in energy should not extend to commercializing new technologies. It is the role of the private sector to deploy them. However, without many of the projects that develop these new technologies, it would be too risky for private companies to invest. I want to thank the gentleman for his deep commitment to advancing American technology and innovation, and I look forward to continuing to work with him on this important issue.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. We would be happy to accept your amendment as it restates current law, and we appreciate your advocacy in this regard.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. I yield back the balance of my time. Mr. Chairman, I move that the Committee do now rise.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. I yield to the gentleman from Oregon.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, I reserve a point of order on the gentleman's amendment.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the gentleman's amendment.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 10 a.m. tomorrow.