2020: Fitzpatrick Voted For A $135 Billion Spending Package On
Renewable Energy Programs. In September 2020, Fitzpatrick voted for
the Expanding Access to Sustainable Energy Act that would, according to
Congressional Quarterly, "authorize Energy Department activities and
programs related to renewable and alternative energy, energy efficiency,
reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and energy infrastructure and
workforce development. It would authorize or reauthorize a wide range of
DOE research and development programs through fiscal 2025, including to
authorize over $5.5 billion for programs related to renewable energy
technologies, including solar, wind, geothermal and water power; $3.5
billion for programs to modernize and improve the national electric
grid; a number of carbon reduction programs, including $3.2 billion for
a carbon storage program; and a number of nuclear energy programs,
including $174 million to support the availability of high-assay low
enriched uranium [...] It would require all federal agencies to assess
public health impacts of proposed actions that may affect communities
disproportionately impacted by environmental hazards; require the EPA to
take actions to identify disproportionate health and environmental
effects on communities of color and low-income communities; and
authorize $5 billion through fiscal 2025 for grants to local
governments or nonprofits for environmental justice projects." The vote
was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 220-185. The
Senate did not take action on the bill. [House Vote 206,
9/24/20; Congressional
Quarterly, 9/24/20;
Congressional Actions,
H.R.4447]
The Bill Funded Programs To Boost Energy Efficiency And Renewable
Energy Sources To Combat Climate Change. According to The Hill,
"The House on Thursday passed a broad bill that aims to boost energy
efficiency and renewable energy sources as part of an attempt to
combat climate change. [...] The legislation would create research
and development programs for solar, wind, advanced geothermal energy
and hydroelectric power as well as lessening pollution from fossil
fuel production." [The Hill,
9/24/20]
The White House Issued A Veto Threat For The Bill. According to
Congressional Quarterly, "The White House budget office issued a
veto threat on Monday against the bill and Republicans criticized
the legislation, arguing it would raise electricity costs and delay
permitting for new energy projects." [Congressional Quarterly,
9/24/20]
Republicans Argued That The Bill Would Raise Electric Costs For
Americans. According to The Hill, "'The top Republicans on the
National Resources, Energy and Commerce and Transportation and
Infrastructure Committees released a joint statement criticizing the
legislation this week. 'Here we are in the middle of a global
pandemic and Speaker Pelosi wants to spend more than $135 billion
on a piece of legislation that will never become law,' said Reps.
Rob Bishop (R-Utah), Greg Walden (R-Ore.), and Frank Lucas
(R-Okla.). 'This bill is chock-full of government mandates that
would raise what Americans pay for everything from the vehicles they
drive to what they pay to heat, cool, and power their homes.'" [The
Hill,
9/24/20]
2020: Fitzpatrick Voted For Increasing Funding For The Efficiency And
Renewable Energy Division At The DOE By 50 Percent. In September 2020,
Fitzpatrick voted for an amendment to a renewable energy package that
would, according to Congressional Quarterly, "increase energy efficiency
and renewable energy funding authorization levels by 50% annually
through fiscal 2025 for Energy Department research and development
activities related to solar, wind, and water energy. It also would add
authorization totals for research, development, demonstration, and
commercialization activities under the Energy Department's Office of
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy through fiscal 2025, authorizing
$3.2 billion in fiscal 2021 increasing incrementally to $3.4 billion
in fiscal 2025." The vote was on adoption. The House adopted the
amendment by a vote of 235-173. [House Vote 203,
9/24/20; Congressional
Quarterly, 9/24/20;
Congressional Actions,
H.Amdt.892;
Congressional Actions,
H.R.4447]
2018: Fitzpatrick Voted To Decrease Fossil Energy Research Funding And
Increase Funding For Advanced Research, Each By $28.3 Million. In
June 2018, Fitzpatrick voted for an amendment that would have, according
to Congressional Quarterly, "decrease[d] funding for fossil energy
research and development at the Energy Department by $28.3 million, and
would [have] increase[d] funding for advanced research projects at
the department by the same amount." The underlying legislation was an FY
2019 minibus of Energy and Water, Legislative Branch, and Military
Construction and Veterans Affairs. The House rejected the amendment by a
vote of 204 to 214. [House Vote 245,
6/7/18; Congressional
Quarterly, 6/7/18; Congressional
Actions, H. Amdt.
730;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
5895]
2018: Fitzpatrick Voted To Increase Funding For Energy Efficiency And
Renewable Energy Programs By $5 Million With A Corresponding Decrease
In Salaries And Expenses At The Energy Department. In June 2018,
Fitzpatrick voted for an amendment that would have, according to
Congressional Quarterly, "increase[d] funding for energy efficiency
and renewable energy activities at the Energy Department by $5 million
and would decrease funding for the salaries and expenses at the Energy
Department by the same amount." The underlying legislation was an FY
2019 minibus of Energy and Water, Legislative Branch, and Military
Construction and Veterans Affairs. The House rejected the amendment by a
vote of 201 to 217. [House Vote 244,
6/7/18; Congressional
Quarterly, 6/7/18; Congressional
Actions, H. Amdt.
725;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
5895]
2017: Fitzpatrick Voted To Reduce Funding For Fossil Fuel Research And
Development By $355 Million And To Increase Funding For Energy
Efficiently And Renewable Energy By $177 Million. In July 2017,
Fitzpatrick voted for an amendment that would have, according to
Congressional Quarterly, "increase[d] by $177 million funding to the
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy account and would [have]
reduce[d] by $355 million funding to the Fossil Fuel Research and
Development account." The underlying legislation was an FY 18 'minibus'
appropriations bill. The House rejected the amendment by a vote of 181
to 246. [House Vote 420,
7/26/17; Congressional
Quarterly, 7/26/17; Congressional
Actions, H. Amdt.
234;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
3219]