Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act, 2006

ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2006 -- (House of Representatives - May 24, 2005)

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Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I thank the ranking member and the chairman of the subcommittee for their work on this bill. This is hard work.

This particular appropriations bill goes to the very heart of many of our congressional districts. I appreciate very much the $4.7 billion in funding provided to the Army Corps of Engineers, but let me express my disappointment that we have not been able to stretch the dollars to provide work on new projects. I am speaking particularly about Sims Bayou, Greens Bayou, White Oaks Bayou and Braes Bayou.

More importantly, having worked on legislation dealing with inland flooding, I can tell you that flooding is a very serious issue in my district. I look forward to working with this appropriations subcommittee through the coming session to be able to provide greater assistance.

Might I also acknowledge my concern on the funding for nonproliferation in nuclear weapons. While I wish we had been able to include more dollars in this area, I am pleased that we were able to increase their funding by $8 million over last year. Unlike previous years, due to the appropriations subcommittee reorganization, the bill funds several renewable energy programs, clean coal technology, and the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. Such programs greatly enhance the lives and security of my constituents.

I am very pleased that the Appropriations Committee rejected the administration's proposal to prioritize Army Corps of Engineers water projects based on the projected revenue they would bring to the government. I want to join the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Gene Green) as relates to our port in Houston, a very important economic arm, but also an entity that needs a great deal of oversight and funding for security and also operation. I am disappointed that the maintenance and operation funding is not as much as it should be.

I also wish there could have been added funds for new projects. Obviously, the needs of this Nation change on a daily basis. Saying that this year we will not start any new projects is a bit illogical. New projects are extremely efficient in job creation and there are many competitive projects across the Nation.

One portion of the bill I am concerned about is the underfunding of the National Nuclear Security Administration, $136 million less than the President's request. I understand that some of this withheld money would have gone to the robust nuclear earth penetrator. I agree with the Committee that we need to think long and hard before we start creating new nuclear weapons when we are pushing the rest of the world.

Mr. Chairman, I ask my colleagues to support this and hope that we can do something more about the Yucca Mountain project by not funding it, without further study and consideration of other opinions. The people of Nevada deserve no less.

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Mr. Chairman, let me first say thanks to you and the ranking member for your work on this bill.

Mr. Chairman, let me raise an issue of concern for my constituents. I appreciate very much the $4.7 billion in funding provided to the Army Corps of Engineers, but let me express my disappointment that we have not been able to stretch the dollars to provide work on new projects. I am speaking particularly about Sims Bayou, Greens Bayou, White Oaks Bayou and Braes Bayou. More importantly, having worked on legislation dealing with inland flooding, I can tell you that flooding is a very serious issue in my district, and I would look forward to working with this appropriations subcommittee through conference to be able to provide some greater assistance.

Mr. Chairman, might I also acknowledge my concern on the funding for nonproliferation in nuclear weapons. While I wish we had been able to include more dollars in this area, I am please that we were able to increase their funding by $8 million over last year's levels.

I would like to commend the chairman and ranking member of the Energy and Water Subcommittee of the Appropriations Committee for their excellent work on crafting this bill. There are several elements of debate between the majority and the minority, and between the House and the administration, but in general it seems that a fair compromise has been reached. Unlike previous years, due to the Appropriations subcommittee reorganization, the bill funds several renewable energy programs, clean coal technology, and the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. Such programs greatly enhance the lives and security of my constituents.

I am very pleased that the Appropriations Committee rejected the administration's proposal to prioritize Army Corps of Engineers water projects based on the projected revenue they would bring to the government. This prioritization plan would have essentially eliminated some, while much needed, less profitable projects. I support the $4.7 billion provided for the Corps, 9.5 percent more than the President's request. This is a smart investment. I wish there could have been added funds for new projects. Obviously, the needs of this Nation change on a daily basis. Saying that this year, we will not start any new projects is a bit illogical. New projects are extremely efficient in job creation. There are many competitive projects across the Nation and in my district, which should have been provided for. However, at least this bill is not a step backwards, like the administration's request. I commend the committee for its leadership on this issue.

One portion of the bill I am concerned about is the under-funding of the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), $136 million less than the president's request. I understand that some of this withheld money would have gone to the "robust nuclear earth penetrator." I agree with the Committee that we need to think long and hard before we start creating new nuclear weapons, when we are pushing the rest of the world to put aside such implements of violence and destruction. We are being accused on every front of employing double standards: as we march on in war and talk about peace in the Middle East; as we spurn our own neighbors in Cuba but ask people in the occupied territories or in Korea or in South Asia, to forgive and forget; as we talk about liberating people but allow tens of millions to die from HIV/AIDS in Africa. We do not need to further degrade our own standing as a beacon of liberty and justice by creating such violent and polluting weaponry now. So, I am pleased that this bill does not provide for the nuclear earth penetrator. But, I hope we can all work together to ensure that other critical non-proliferation work done by the NNSA will be fully provided for in the years to come.

Through my work on the Science Committee I have come to understand the amazing new technologies on the horizon that will decrease our reliance on foreign sources of fossil fuels, and help preserve our environment for generations to come. It is good to see that this bill has allotted $3.7 billion, 6 percent more than the administration's request for Science programs. However, of the energy research out there, hydrogen fuels and fuel cells are some of the most promising areas that need to be developed. The Science Committee has encouraged strong support of these programs, and the administration also has recognized their value. But this appropriations bill provides for less than half of what the administration has requested for hydrogen technology research. I represent Houston, the energy capital of the world. I understand the needs of this Nation for ample and affordable energy. As gas prices take a slow decline, we are realizing that we depend too much on countries that are either directly or indirectly hostile towards us. It seems irresponsible to under-invest in these next-generation technologies. Perhaps this is something that can be re-visited in conference.

Again I thank the chairman and the ranking member for their work on this bill. The lagging economy of the past 3 years, and huge deficits that have been created by our fiscal policies, have made budgets very tight. I wish this were not the case. But considering the box we are in, I believe our appropriators have done an admirable job here to fund important priorities and serve the Nation's energy and water needs.

Yet I am very disappointed in the support for the Yucca Mountain Nuclear Waste Respository at an amount of an additional $310 million. The project needs more consideration and more study, there is much opposition in Nevada and the people of that great State deserve better from this Congress.

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