Ed Pastor

Mr. PASTOR of Arizona

Mr. PASTOR of Arizona. I can assure the gentleman from Washington that the committee is aware of this sustainable domestic energy source and its potential. We will continue to work with the gentleman from Washington through conference to highlight renewable marine and hydrokinetic energy development as a priority for the agency.

Mr. PASTOR of Arizona. Mr. Chairman, I would like to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia, my good friend, Bobby Scott.

Mr. PASTOR of Arizona. I thank the gentleman for bringing this important issue to us. You have made a case that the administration request for $22 million for the continuous electron beam accelerator facility is merited. You have my personal commitment to work with you and Mr. Wittman going forward to see that this project receives the funding it needs and deserves.

Mr. PASTOR of Arizona. First of all, I thank the gentleman for yielding time and congratulate him on his amendments. To you and Mrs. Schmidt, I appreciate the comments made by all my colleagues. I will be happy to work with everyone to ensure the program is run efficiently and effectively. The management and effectiveness of this program is a priority of the subcommittee. We must ensure that it is fair to all applicants. And, yes, I will work with my colleagues.

Mr. PASTOR of Arizona. I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Israel).

Mr. PASTOR of Arizona. First of all, thank you for the compliment, and I will tell you that I have Eliot Engel and Brad Sherman, as well as you, Madam Chairman and Mr. Israel, who have brought this matter to my attention, and I want to thank you for raising it on the floor. I, too, am a supporter of the U.S.-Israel Energy Cooperation. This bill, as you have told us, doubles the account which funds such programs, and I look forward to working to ensure that the U.S.-Israel Energy Cooperation continues to receive strong support in order to accelerate the development of alternative energy programs.

Mr. PASTOR of Arizona. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Smith) for the purpose of a colloquy.

Mr. PASTOR of Arizona. I would like to thank the gentleman from Washington for drawing the subcommittee's attention to this very serious issue. He has been a dedicated advocate for the people of the Ninth District of Washington and the surrounding areas. We will work with the gentleman to ensure that the Seattle district of the Corps is responsive to the needs of the cities and people along the lower Green and Puyallup Rivers and that adequate resources are available to repair the Howard Hanson Dam. So we look forward to working with you.

Mr. PASTOR of Arizona. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Altmire) for the purpose of a colloquy.

Mr. PASTOR of Arizona. I thank the gentleman for yielding. I agree, and the committee was pleased to recommend that the Nuclear Power 2010 program receives $71 million in this legislation, an increase of $51 million above the President's request.

Mr. PASTOR of Arizona. I want to thank the gentleman for pointing out the vital role this program plays in his district. I am glad that NP2010 funding is included in the bill for all participants who are moving forward with licensing and building to bring the next generation of nuclear plants to the market.

Mr. PASTOR of Arizona. Mr. Chairman, I would yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Lujan).

Mr. PASTOR of Arizona. First of all, I want to thank you for raising this important issue, and you have my personal commitment to work with you as we go forward to find a solution that best serves the national security. We're well aware of the capabilities and the value of Los Alamos National Laboratories.

Mr. PASTOR of Arizona. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Colorado, my good friend, Mr. Polis.

Mr. PASTOR of Arizona. First of all, you are both correct in that when the Secretary appeared before the subcommittee, this is and was presented as a work in progress. And knowing that we are going to proceed forward with the administration and with the Secretary, we thought that it was in the best interest to fund one hub. And as the Secretary and the administration goes forward in developing these hubs, we look forward to working with you, Mr. Polis.

Mr. PASTOR of Arizona. I yield another minute to Mr. Polis.

Mr. PASTOR of Arizona. So we look forward to working with you and Mr. Carnahan because it's an idea that obviously will expand, will grow, and we want to make sure that the committee, the subcommittee has the opportunity to work with the Secretary to see its development. So we look forward to working with you.

Mr. PASTOR of Arizona. Mr. Chairman, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from New York, a member of the Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee, Mr. Israel.

Mr. PASTOR of Arizona. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Larson).

Mr. PASTOR of Arizona. We don't have any other speakers. So I reserve my time.

Mr. PASTOR of Arizona. Mr. Chairman, as you heard, this is a bipartisan bill. We've tried to balance the different priorities and needs of this country. Again, I want to thank my ranking member for his cooperation, his support, and his insight in preparing this bill. It is a good bill, and we would not have been able to do it without the staff that was involved in bringing this bill to us.

Mr. PASTOR of Arizona. Mr. Chairman, I yield back my time.

Mr. PASTOR of Arizona. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. PASTOR of Arizona. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. This amendment provides funding for several important programs within the bill. On behalf of Messrs. Arcuri, Michaud, Hodes, Welch and Ms. Pingree, $2.5 million for the Northern Border Regional Commission to address economic challenges in border counties from Maine to New York. On behalf of Mr. Klein of Florida, $1.8 million for the Corps of Engineers to help address the chronic backlog of regulatory permit applications. And on behalf of Mr. Israel, Mr. Larson of Connecticut, Mr. Dent, Mr. Massa, Mr. Inglis, $45 million for energy efficiency, renewable energy. On behalf of Mr. Cuellar of Texas, the amendment prohibits funds in this bill from being used to purchase lightbulbs unless they the energy star or Federal energy management program designation. Also, this manager's amendment has an amendment for Mr. Kissell which does not create any new programs or it follows the current language, and the amendment prohibits funds in the bill from being used to purchase passenger vehicles unless they're purchased from Ford, GM or Chrysler. The amendment decreases funding for Corps of Engineers' programs and expenses by $10.8 million; the Department of Energy departmental administration by $30 million; the office of electricity by $15 million; and other defense activities by $.25 million. I reserve my time, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. PASTOR of Arizona. First of all, I apologize to the ranking member in that it was my understanding that the manager's amendment had been shown to him and had sought his approval, but if they had not, my deepest apologies because I think it's important that this bill, along with the manager's amendment, continue to be bipartisan. I yield 30 seconds to Mr. Massa.