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McCollum Vote on H.R. 8997, Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2025

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 8997, Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2025. This bill makes devastating cuts that will harm consumers, take us backwards in the green energy transition, and threaten good-paying, clean energy jobs.

Just as the heat is being turned on for the winter, House Republicans are putting forth H.R 4394 which will raise energy costs for more than 250,000 American households. Additionally, H.R. 8997 includes provisions that limit the Department of Energy’s ability to set energy efficiency standards for home appliances. Mr.  Speaker, why wouldn’t we want more efficient appliances? Contrary to Republican talking points, the Biden administration is not coming to take your gas stove. That is simply untrue. The Department of Energy does not have the authority to ban gas stoves or other appliances based on fuel sources, nor should it have the authority. 

The growing threat of climate change is real, and in order to protect our planet, we must reduce carbon emissions and embrace a green energy future. Congressional Republicans have long been hostile to investments in clean energy and they are using H.R. 8997 as an opportunity to slow down the transition to green energy and rescind the historic investments in clean energy made in the Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. H.R. 8997 includes a 42 percent cut to the Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy account. This office is critical to developing manufacturing, building efficiency, clean energy like hydrogen and solar, and weatherization technologies that are essential to our nation’s growth and resilience in the face of climate change. 

As we make the transition to green energy, opportunities for clean energy jobs are growing. In 2022, clean energy companies employed nearly 60,000 Minnesotans—and jobs in clean energy grew 50 percent faster than the state’s overall economy. In fact, the biggest sector in Minnesota’s clean energy industry is energy efficiency. Over 43,000 Minnesotans work to manufacture and install energy efficient appliances, lighting, heating, ventilation, HVAC systems, and advanced building materials in commercial buildings and homes. The drastic cuts in this bill and the attack on energy efficiency incentives will threaten the vibrancy of Minnesota’s clean energy economy.

Mr. Speaker, instead of reevaluating their extreme 2024 funding bills and working to find a bipartisan path forward to fund the government beyond November 17th, House Republicans are moving forward with passing bills that have no chance of ever becoming law. With this bill, House Republicans are harming consumers, threatening our clean energy economy, and failing to address the existential threat of climate change. For all of these reasons, I must vote against H.R. 4665. 

Thank you, and I yield back. 

Issues: Appropriations & Budget Environment & Energy