As the House considers H.R. 2609, the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act of 2014, NTU urges all Representatives to support initiatives that reduce expenditures, promote a true “all of the above” energy policy, and uphold free-market enterprise. To that end, NTU will consider “YES” votes on the following amendments to be the pro-taxpayer position:
- Quigley (D-IL) B61 Amendment: This amendment would cut the $23.7 million that was added above the Administration’s request for the B61 nuclear bomb with savings applied to deficit reduction. Given the current economic challenges, it would be prudent to not exceed the National Nuclear Security Administration’s proposal, which submitted a funding request of $537 million (already representing a 45 percent increase over 2013 levels).
- Burgess (R-TX) USEC Amendment: This amendment would eliminate $48 million allotted for the troubled United States Enrichment Corporation (USEC). Facing serious financial trouble, high operating costs, and technological problems, taxpayer dollars should not be used to prop-up this unnecessary and costly private uranium enterprise.
- Burgess (R-TX) Light Bulb Amendment: This amendment would prevent the Department ofEnergy (DOE) from using funds to enforce a ban on the sale of standard 100-watt light bulbs, preserving consumer choice.
- Broun (R-GA) Spending Reduction Amendments: These amendments (numbers 56, 59, 52, 53, 54, and 61) would help to rein in Washington’s out-of-control spending by cutting non-essential programs and reapplying hundreds of millions of dollars to the Spending Reduction Account. The Broun amendments would make modest reductions in keeping with FY13 spending levels. Broun amendment #59 in particular would eliminate funding for the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loan Program, the originator of a $529 million loan to Fisker Automotive, a company long troubled by financial woes.
- McClintock (R-CA)/Sanford (R-SC) Amendment: This amendment would cut funding for the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Research Development Demonstration and Deployment, Nuclear Energy Research and Development, and Fossil Energy Research and Development programs, saving taxpayers over $1.5 billion.
- Chabot (R-OH)/Sanford (R-SC) Regional Commission Amendment: This amendment would eliminate funding for the Appalachian Regional Commission, Delta Regional Authority, Denali Commission, Northern Border Regional Commission, and the Southeast Crescent Regional Commission, saving taxpayers over $90 million by addressing duplicative and wasteful economic development programs.
Roll call votes on these amendments to H.R. 2609 will be included in our annual Rating of Congress.
If you have any questions, please contact NTU Federal Affairs Manager Nan Swift (703) 683-5700******************************