Congresswoman McCollum's House Budget Committee Statement on Clean Energy Technology

The number one focus for Congress must be to get Americans back to work and keep our economy moving forward. Reducing federal deficits is a necessary step to restore America's economic strength. The fastest way to shrink deficits is to grow the economy and get Americans back to work. But if America isn't leading the global economy, we will not be able to sustain economic growth and job creation.

Last week, the Pew Charitable Trust released a report titled: "Who's Winning the Clean Energy Race?" This report found worldwide investments in clean energy technology and finance have grown 630 percent since 2004. Last year alone, private investments in clean energy technology grew by 30 percent to a record $243 billion.

Clean energy technology is one of the fastest growing sectors of the global economy. The real path to prosperity is for America to compete and win this race. But the report had bad news: America is losing ground fast. In 2008, America was #1 in the world in private clean energy investment. By 2010 America had slipped to #3 behind China and Germany.

Why is America losing the clean energy race? The Director of Pew's Clean Energy Program Phyllis Cuttino explained, "The United States' position as a leading destination for clean energy investment is declining because its policy framework is weak and uncertain."

Budgets are about choices. This Republican budget chooses to slash investments in clean energy research, development and implementation – the very policies American clean energy companies need to compete. Instead, the Republican budget chooses to protect $46 billion in taxpayer subsidies for oil and gas companies.

And as this chart shows, the Republican preference for spending on oil and gas subsidies over investments in clean energy will cost America jobs. With gas prices at nearly $4 gallon, why are Republicans choosing subsidies for big oil instead of research into alternative energy sources that increase American energy security?

I have to believe that this morning, government officials in China, India, Brazil and Germany are smiling. They know that the Republican love-affair with fossil fuels is taking American clean energy technology out of the race. They know the Republican cuts to clean energy amount to unilateral disarmament. These countries look forward to selling wind turbines, solar panels, and energy efficiency technology to Americans, all developed and manufactured overseas.

The Republican budget is a "Road to Ruin" for America's clean energy sector and America's leadership in the global economy, and it is a "Path to Pain" for America's communities and working families who will bear the burden of Republican cuts. My colleagues are going to highlight other reckless cuts Republicans make in their budget.