Washington, DC – Congressman Jim Himes (CT-4) issued the following statement regarding the House Republican majority’s Energy-Water appropriations bill (H.R. 4923) for fiscal 2015. Himes voted against the bill, which the House passed Thursday night by a vote of 253-170.
“This bill demonstrates the House Republican majority’s misplaced priorities and irresponsible policies when it comes to moving America closer to a cleaner and more independent energy future. The legislation takes the wrong approach by boosting spending for coal and other fossil fuel technologies while cutting investments in renewable, cleaner energy development. We need to enact policies that end our dependence on foreign oil and encourage the development and use of renewable fuels, especially clean energy options, and this bill fails to do so.”
Overall, the bill provides $34 billion for the Energy Department and federal water projects in fiscal 2015. The legislation appropriates $593 million for fossil fuels energy research and development, a 6 percent increase, including $412 million for coal-based technological research. Meanwhile, the bill cuts investments in renewable energy research and development by 6 percent.