Banner Week for Committee’s Energy Efforts

 

WASHINGTON, DC – The House of Representatives this week said #Yes2Energy and passed a number of Energy and Commerce Committee energy bills that keep electricity affordable and reliable, modernize our dated energy laws, and boost drinking water for rural America. Additionally, the House passed a long-term highway bill that contained committee priorities to improve #Safety4Drivers and bolster America’s energy security.

“When it comes to legislating thoughtful energy policy, this was a banner week for the committee – years in the making – with the 10 bills and provisions we got through the House,” said Energy and Commerce Committee Fred Upton (R-MI). “The House said yes to energy and yes to jobs. We stood up to protect the grid, protect rural drinking water, and keep energy affordable. But our work continues, and we look forward to building upon our bipartisan record.”

The energy-related bills that cleared the House this week are detailed below:

• S. 611, the Grassroots Rural and Small Community Water Systems Assistance ActCompanion legislation to H.R. 2853, a bill introduced by Environment and the Economy Subcommittee Vice Chairman Gregg Harper (R-MS) and Ranking Minority member Paul Tonko (D-NY). S. 611 aims to help maintain safe drinking water in rural America.

  PASSED MONDAY by voice vote

• S.J. Res. 23, A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval of a rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to “Standards of Performance for Greenhouse Gas Emissions from New, Modified, and Reconstructed Stationary Sources: Electric Utility Generating Units.” The resolution is identical to H.J. Res. 71, introduced by Subcommittee on Energy and Power Chairman Ed Whitfield (R-KY). The resolution would keep electricity affordable and reliable for ratepayers across the country.

PASSED TUESDAY by a vote of 235 to 188

• S.J. Res. 24, A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval of a rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to “Carbon Pollution Emission Guidelines for Existing Stationary Sources: Electric Utility Generating Units.” The resolution is identical to H.J. Res. 72, also introduced subcommittee Chairman Whitfield. The measure would keep electricity affordable and reliable for ratepayers across the country.

PASSED TUESDAY by a vote of 242 to 180

• H.R. 8, the North American Energy Security and Infrastructure Act. The landmark legislation, sponsored by Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI), culminates a multi-year, multi-Congress effort to modernize our outdated energy laws for the 21st century to maximize America’s energy potential.

PASSED THURSDAY by a vote of 249 to 174 

The House on Thursday also considered the “Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act,” a long-term highway bill that included important proposals from the Energy and Commerce Committee to improve auto safety and strengthen American energy security. The legislation included the following committee energy-related provisions:

• H.R. 1558, the Resolving Environmental and Grid Reliability Conflicts Act of 2015 Authored by Reps. Pete Olson (R-TX), Gene Green (D-TX), and Mike Doyle (D-PA), H.R. 1558 would provide certainty to electric utilities and protect grid reliability across the country.

• H.R. 2244, To establish a Strategic Transformer Reserve program, and for other purposes
  Authored by Reps. Renee Ellmers (R-NC) and Jerry McNerney (D-CA), this legislation would ask the Department of Energy to submit a plan to Congress outlining the feasibility of establishing a Strategic Transformer Reserve in an effort to increase the United States’ capability to deal with 21st century threats to electric grid reliability.

• H.R. 2271, Critical Electric Infrastructure Protection Act
  Authored by Reps. Bob Latta (R-OH), Renee Ellmers and Jerry McNerney, H.R. 2271 protects our critical electric infrastructure by providing private entities and the federal government the tools they need to better respond and alleviate grid security emergencies.

• H.R. 3923, To provide for a report that develops United States energy security valuation methods
  Authored by Rep. Richard Hudson (R-NC), the bill would strengthen our energy security by establishing U.S. energy security valuation methods to ensure that energy-related actions don’t negatively impact the supply, distribution, and use of energy throughout the United States.

• H.R. 3941, To provide for emergency preparedness for energy supply disruptions Recent natural disasters have underscored the importance of having resilient and reliable energy infrastructure. This legislation, authored by Rep. Leonard Lance (R-NJ), strengthens communication and coordination between DOE and first responders to speed up emergency response and recovery.

• An amendment from Rep. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) to provide regulatory parity for natural gas vehicles.

  PASSED THURSDAY by a vote of 359 to 65