Mike Simpson

Mr. SIMPSON

Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Chairman, I move that the Committee do now rise.

Mr. SIMPSON

Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Mr. SIMPSON

Mr. SIMPSON. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 4923, and that I may include tabular material on the same.

Mr. SIMPSON. Madam Chair, it is my distinct honor to present the fiscal year 2015 Energy and Water bill for consideration before the full House. I would like to recognize the efforts of our chairman, Mr. Rogers, and Ranking Member Lowey to bring this bill to the floor. Their efforts to bring the appropriations process back to regular order ensures that our Federal discretionary spending receives the full scrutiny of this body and our committee process. I would also like to thank Ranking Member Kaptur for all of her work. Her contributions and advice have made this legislation stronger. The bill before us totals $34.01 billion for activities for the Department of Energy, Army Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Reclamation, and other agencies under our jurisdiction. This is a $50 million reduction from last year's funding levels. The bill prioritizes investments in this Nation's infrastructure and national defense. As we do each year, we worked hard to incorporate priorities and perspectives from both sides of the aisle. For instance, this bill overcomes the budget request's proposed cut of nearly $1 billion to the critical programs of the Army Corps of Engineers. The request would have led to economic disruptions at our ports and waterways as our ports and waterways filled in and would have left our communities and businesses vulnerable to flooding. Instead, this bill recognizes the critical work of the Corps and provides $5.492 billion for these activities, $959 million above the request and $25 million above last year. This bill takes a strong stand against government overreach by prohibiting changes to the definitions of the ``waters of the United States'' and ``fill material.'' The bill also provides $11.361 billion for the automatic security, nonproliferation, and naval reactors programs of the National Nuclear Security Administration, a $154 million increase from fiscal year 2014. This bill is clear about our concerns with Russia's recent activities in Eastern Europe. It eliminates all new funding for nonproliferation funding in Russia and requires that, before the Secretary of Energy funds any activity in Russia, he must certify that the activity is in our national security interests. Madam Chairman, Russia's activities in Ukraine have shown once again how important our nuclear security umbrella is to our allies. We have also seen how Russia has used Ukraine's reliance on natural gas to put pressure on its new leadership. The movements by insurgents to occupy Iraq threaten to drive oil prices through the roof. Our country has abundant natural energy resources, and it is our national security and economic interest to ensure that they are fully and responsibly used. That is why this bill makes a strong, balanced investment in our energy sector to ensure that our constituents continue to have reliable, affordable energy. Fossil energy, which provided more than 71 percent of our electricity production in 2013, receives $593 million, a $31 million increase above fiscal year 2014. Nuclear energy is increased by $10 million above last year. Energy efficiency and renewable energy is slightly reduced by $113 million from last year. This balanced investment prioritizes improvements to energy sources that we rely upon today while making long-term investments in alternative energy sources. I appreciate the full committee's attention to this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time. [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH09JY14.001 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH09JY14.002 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH09JY14.003 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH09JY14.004

Mr. SIMPSON. Madam Chair, I now yield as much time as he may consume to the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Rogers), the chairman of the full committee.

Mr. SIMPSON. Madam Chair, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Hastings) for the purpose of a colloquy.

Mr. SIMPSON. Will the gentleman yield?

Mr. SIMPSON. First, I would like to thank the gentleman from Washington for his continued advocacy of Hanford cleanup funding in the Energy and Water bill. His leadership on these issues will be sorely missed in the future. I am pleased to support funding for the cleanup of the River Corridor, and I am hopeful that the Department of Energy will soon provide the necessary details for the Waste Treatment Plant project. WTP is a critical project, but Congress needs more answers and greater transparency. I look forward to working with you to make sure adequate funding is available should a new agreement on the path forward be reached.

Mr. SIMPSON. Madam Chair, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Amodei) for the purpose of a colloquy.

Mr. SIMPSON. Will the gentleman yield?

Mr. SIMPSON. I thank the gentleman. I look forward to working with you to making sure adequate funding is available to support the needs of our nuclear weapons stockpile and to receiving more information on the Department of Energy's proposal to construct this new capability.

Mr. SIMPSON. Madam Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Huelskamp).

Mr. SIMPSON. Madam Chair, it is now my pleasure to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Weber).

Mr. SIMPSON. Will the gentleman yield?

Mr. SIMPSON. I thank the gentleman from Texas for highlighting the importance of allocating sufficient resources to the maintenance of our waterways and harbors. It is for this very reason that he articulated that the bill being considered today increases funding for navigation maintenance by 18 percent above the budget request. Madam Chair, I agree that Congress needs to hold the administration accountable in this regard, and I promise to work with the gentleman to ensure that we prioritize maintenance funding for all of our Nation's economically and strategically significant waterways and harbors.

Mr. SIMPSON. Madam Chair, it is my pleasure to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Terry).

Mr. SIMPSON. Madam Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume, and I yield to the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Rogers) for the purpose of a colloquy.

Mr. SIMPSON. I would like to thank the gentleman from Alabama for his continued advocacy for the important national security activities funded in the Energy and Water bill, which includes the Naval Reactors program. Madam Chair, as the appropriations process continues, I look forward to working with him and his colleagues on the Armed Services Committee, to ensure that Naval Reactors receives the funding it requires to sustain, support, and to modernize the nuclear fleet. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SIMPSON. Madam Chair, I would like to inquire how much time is remaining.

Mr. SIMPSON. Madam Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume, and at this time, I yield to the gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Ben Ray Lujan) for the purpose of a colloquy.

Mr. SIMPSON. Madam Chair, I would like to thank the gentleman from New Mexico for his continued advocacy of the cleanup program at Los Alamos. I look forward to working with you on ensuring that adequate funding is available to support the Department of Energy's cleanup program, including the cleanup work at Los Alamos and the restoration of operations at WIPP. I thank the gentleman, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SIMPSON. I believe we have two more speakers.

Mr. SIMPSON. Madam Chair, it is now my pleasure to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Roskam).

Mr. SIMPSON. Madam Chair, it is my pleasure to yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from West Virginia (Mrs. Capito).