Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2016

Floor Speech

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Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my concerns with the Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2016. This bill passed the Senate with overwhelming bipartisan support; however this bill contains unnecessarily controversial language which will jeopardize its passage here in the House. Many of the bills included in today's House amendment have passed largely along party lines and have received veto threats from the White House.

For example, the House Amendment contains The Western Water and American Food Security Act, a bill which aims to address California's record drought. As we all know, California has been in a severe drought which has devastated its water supply. Although this bill includes language to address California's current water crisis, I do not believe that it takes into account the concerns of all major stakeholders. Yes, we need to increase storage sites, reexamine infrastructure to move water to the south, and take immediate steps to provide water to the farmers who put food on our tables. We also cannot afford to ignore the environment as our kids and their kids will have to live in it.

I believe we must put everything on the table. All community stakeholders should be involved as we address California's short-term and long-term water future--and this must be done immediately. Last week during National Infrastructure Week, I spoke about the importance of investing in California's water infrastructure. We should utilize our resources to capture, reuse, and recycle our precious water for future generations.

The House amendment also contains harmful language from the National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act of 2015. This legislation would allow mining companies to set their own rules regarding environmental reviews. It would also cripple the permitting authority under the National Environmental Policy Act, or NEPA. Another bill added into this package, the North American Energy and Infrastructure Act, increases our reliance on fossil fuels and cripples the Department of Energy's ability to enforce energy efficiency standards.

Further provisions in this bill would curtail NEPA even further, threaten wildlife protections, and ban the results of Department of Energy-supported research from being used to create assessments. Mr. Speaker, this legislation hurts our environment, our wildlife, our public health, and our energy independence.

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