Repealing of Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund
Floor Speech
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Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Madam Speaker, I thank our ranking member of the Energy and Commerce Committee for yielding.
Madam Speaker, I was listening to the debate on the floor this morning and there is so much doom and gloom. There is too much of it.
I believe in America. I believe that we do have the power to solve big problems. The good news is that the historic clean energy law passed by Democrats and signed by President Biden in the last Congress is working.
Already since we passed that new Inflation Reduction Act, which is our historic clean energy and climate law, there have been enormous job gains across the country, with over 523 clean energy projects across America. It has created about 210 clean energy jobs. Most of these jobs are going to working-class areas in many Republican States and many Republican districts, lifting them up. It has motivated over $300 billion in private capital to come and boost communities and boost clean energy manufacturing. I know that we are on track to meeting our clean energy goals so that we can avoid the very costly impacts of our climate crisis.
There is a different point of view on the other side of the aisle. Let's be honest, there is a very clear contrast. Just look at what the GOP Members here focused on during their dirty energy week.
From the Arctic Refuge to the Gulf of Mexico, where I live, Republicans have made clear their intent to sell out America's public lands and wildlife refuges to the shareholders of Big Oil.
On Wednesday, they passed a resolution that did nothing but celebrate fracking on public lands. Even in our committee this week, as Mr. Pallone knows, we had this crazy debate where the Republicans passed bills that essentially reached into the pocketbooks of Americans and took pennies and dollars because they passed bills--and I hope they are not coming to the floor--to rescind energy efficiency initiatives for our home appliances.
Manufacturers agree they can innovate better, and homeowners sure want more money back in their pockets when they buy a new air- conditioner or refrigerator, so they are really taking us backwards.
Yesterday they passed an absurd resolution criticizing President Biden for not opening up more public lands and waters to drilling.
Today, Republicans' polluters over people agenda continues the debate because they want to rescind our new green climate bank, our Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, which is an historic important element of the Inflation Reduction Act and everything we want to do on clean energy.
We all know that sometimes there is a barrier and an up-front cost to installing solar or purchasing that battery. This new fund will help motivate private capital to erase those barriers. It is going to help working-class communities, especially, to invest in solar power. That is great news for people who live in the Sunshine State, my neighbors, and it is going to open up all sorts of new, cleaner, and cheaper energy options.
These clean energy projects will support families and businesses across America who are eager to find relief from exorbitant electric bills. They will slash harmful air pollution and help communities better withstand these extreme weather events by utilizing battery storage systems.
Although all of these investments are wildly popular, Republicans still oppose these investments in America. These are real solutions to lower bills; to create jobs; and to build safer, healthier communities. Why? It is because community-led clean energy projects aren't on the balance sheet for fossil fuel donors.
Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to move forward. Believe in America like we do and buy America, build America, invest in our communities, and invest in our neighbors to help them lower electric bills.
I urge you to protect the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, our historic clean energy green climate bank, and ensure that all Americans can reap the savings and the benefits of clean air and cleaner, cheaper energy.
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