2024: Fitzpatrick Voted Against Eliminating Funding For The Title 17
Innovative Technology Loan Guarantee Program. In July 2024,
Fitzpatrick voted against , according to Congressional Quarterly,
"amendment no. 44 that would eliminate all funding ($55 million) for
the Energy Department's Title 17 Innovative Technology Loan Guarantee
Program and transfer the savings to the Spending Reduction Account." The
vote was on the amendment. The underlying legislation was the FY 2025
Energy-Water appropriations. The House rejected the amendment by a vote
of 145 to 274. [House Vote 366,
7/23/24; Congressional
Quarterly, 7/23/24;
Congressional Actions,
H.Amdt.1106;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
8997]
2024: Fitzpatrick Voted Against Eliminating Funding For The Advanced
Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loan Program. In July 2024,
Fitzpatrick voted against , according to Congressional Quarterly,
"amendment no. 43 that would eliminate all funding ($18 million) for
the Energy Department's Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loan
Program and transfer the savings to the spending reduction account." The
vote was on the amendment. The underlying legislation was the FY 2025
Energy-Water appropriations. The House rejected the amendment by a vote
of 147 to 267. [House Vote 365,
7/23/24; Congressional
Quarterly, 7/23/24;
Congressional Actions,
H.Amdt.1105;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
8997]
2024: Fitzpatrick Voted To Transfer The Authority To Approve Gas
Imports And Exports From The Department Of Energy To The Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission. In February 2024, Fitzpatrick voted for "the
bill that would remove the Energy Department's role in approving gas
imports and exports and instead give that authority to the Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission. It also would modify current law to
provide FERC the exclusive authority to approve or deny an application
for the siting, construction, expansion or operation of any facility to
export or import natural gas, not just a liquefied natural gas terminal.
It also would require FERC, when determining whether to grant such an
application, to deem such exportation or importation to be consistent
with the public interest." The vote was on passage. The House passed the
bill by a vote of 224 to 200. [House Vote 52,
2/15/24; Congressional
Quarterly, 2/15/24;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
7176]
The Bill Came As A Response To President Biden's Pause On
Liquefied Natural Gas Exports. According to Congressional
Quarterly, "The House Republican majority, fighting the Biden
administration's pause on some liquefied natural gas exports,
passed a bill that would cut the Energy Department out of the export
review process. The bill passed 224-200 with nine Democrats joining
the Republicans. The legislation (HR 7176) sets the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission as the sole authority for the siting,
construction, expansion or operation of LNG import or export
facilities. It would also require the commission to deem the import
and export of natural gas to be in the public interest. Those
changes would all but eliminate the role for administration
officials, handing it to a commission made up of officials from both
parties." [Congressional Quarterly,
2/15/24]
President Biden's Pause On Exports Applied To Non-Free Trade
Agreement Countries. According to Congressional Quarterly, "The
proposal received renewed attention after the administration's Jan.
26 announcement that it would pause approvals of new export permits
to non-free trade agreement countries. During this pause, the Energy
Department will review the economic, national security and
environment impact of these exports, criteria used to inform whether
they are in the public interest." [Congressional Quarterly,
2/15/24]
The Biden Administration Stated The Bill Put Consumer Interest And
Domestic Energy Security At Risk. According to Congressional
Quarterly, "The Office of Management and Budget voiced its
opposition to the bill, but stopped short of promising a veto in a
statement of administration policy released Feb. 13. It said the
bill would 'eliminate an important check that exports to non-FTA
countries will be consistent with U.S. law and policy.' 'The
Administration believes that the critical protections current law
provides, which this legislation would repeal, should be retained to
protect residential and industrial consumers and national and
domestic energy security,' the statement said." [Congressional
Quarterly, 2/15/24]
2024: Fitzpatrick Voted To Prohibit Conservation Standards For Clothes
Washers. In December 2024, Fitzpatrick voted for , according to
Congressional Quarterly, "the bill that would prohibit the Energy
Department from prescribing or enforcing an energy conservation standard
for clothes washers unless the standard is technologically feasible,
economically justified, unlikely to result in additional net costs for
consumers and likely to result in significant conservation of energy."
The House passed the bill by a vote of 215 to 200. [House Vote 497,
12/10/24; Congressional
Quarterly, 12/10/24;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
7673]
2024: Fitzpatrick Voted To Overhaul The Energy Department's Procedures
For Issuing Energy Efficiency Standards For Appliances. In May 2024,
Fitzpatrick voted for , according to Congressional Quarterly, "the bill,
as amended, that would overhaul the Energy Department's procedures for
issuing energy efficiency standards with respect to certain home
appliances. The bill would allow an individual to petition the DOE to
conduct a rulemaking to determine whether such standards for such
products should be revoked. It would require the DOE to grant a petition
to determine if the standards for a product should be amended or revoked
if there is certain evidence, including that such standards result in
additional costs to consumers. It would require the DOE, within two
years of issuing any final rule for a new or amended energy conservation
standard for such a product, to evaluate it to determine whether the
standard is technologically feasible and economically justified and
whether the regulatory impact analysis for the rule remains accurate. As
amended, it would provide that the April 2024 Energy Department final
rule titled 'Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards
for Distribution Transformers' would not take effect." The vote was on
the passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 212 to 195. [House
Vote 184, 5/7/24;
Congressional Quarterly,
5/7/24; Congressional Actions,
H.R.
6192]
2024: Fitzpatrick Voted Against Maintaining The Energy Department's
Procedures For Issuing Energy Efficiency Standards For Appliances. In
May 2024, Fitzpatrick voted against , according to Congressional
Quarterly, the "motion to recommit the bill to the House Energy and
Commerce Committee." The vote was on the motion to recommit. The
underlying bill overhauled the Department Of Energy's procedures
relating to energy efficiency standards for appliances. The House
rejected the motion by a vote of 202 to 206. [House Vote 183,
5/7/24; Congressional
Quarterly, 5/7/24;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
6192]
2024: Fitzpatrick Vted Against A Department Of Energy Rule On Energy
Conservation Standards For Distribution Transformers. In May 2024,
Fitzpatrick voted for , according to Congressional Quarterly, "amendment
no. 3 that would provide that the April 2024 Energy Department final
rule titled 'Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards
for Distribution Transformers' would not take effect." The vote was on
the amendment. The House adopted the amendment by a vote of 208 to 199.
[House Vote 182, 5/7/24;
Congressional Quarterly,
5/7/24; Congressional Actions,
H.Amdt.
904;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
6192]
2024: Fitzpatrick Voted Against Reducing Funding For The Energy
Department's Energy Efficiency And Renewable Energy Programs To Offset
An Increase In Funding For The Department's Grid Deployment Account.
In July 2024, Fitzpatrick voted against , according to Congressional
Quarterly, "amendment no. 64 that would increase by $10 million funding
for the Energy Department's Grid Deployment account, intended to
enhance the security of existing electrical transformers from cyber
threats and from physical attacks from individuals. As an offset, it
would reduce funding by an equal amount for the Energy Department's
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy programs and activities." The
vote was on the amendment. The underlying legislation was the FY 2025
Energy-Water appropriations. The House rejected the amendment by a vote
of 214 to 203. [House Vote 379,
7/23/24; Congressional
Quarterly, 7/23/24;
Congressional Actions,
H.Amdt.1122;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
8997]
2022: Fitzpatrick Effectively Voted Against An Amendment That Required
The Energy Information Administration To Conduct Surveys Of Energy
Companies On U.S. Crude Oil And Transportation Fuel Markets. In May
2022, according to Congressional Quarterly, Fitzpatrick effectively
voted against the manager's amendment to the Consumer Fuel Price Gouging
Prevention Act, which would "require the Energy Department's Energy
Information Administration to conduct surveys of energy companies to
collect information on U.S. crude oil and transportation fuel markets;
consistently and promptly publish analyses of survey results; and enter
into a data-sharing agreement to promptly share information collected
with the Federal Trade Commission. It would authorize such sums as
necessary through fiscal 2027 to carry out the survey requirements." The
vote was on the adoption of the rule. The House adopted the rule by a
vote of 218-202, thus the manager's amendment was automatically adopted.
[House Vote 209,
5/18/22; Congressional
Quarterly, 5/18/22;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
7688;
Congressional Actions, H.Res.
1124]
2022: Fitzpatrick Voted For The FY 2023 Omnibus Spending Package,
Which Provided $54 Billion For The Department Of energy And Federal
Water Projects. In December 2022, according to Congressional
Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted to concur with the Senate amendment to the
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, which would "provide
approximately $25.5 billion for the Agriculture Department and related
agencies; $82.4 billion for the Commerce and Justice departments and
science and related agencies; $797.7 billion for the Defense
Department; $54 billion for the Energy Department and federal water
projects; $27.6 billion for the Treasury Department, federal judiciary
and a number of executive agencies; $60.7 billion for the Homeland
Security Department; $38.9 billion for the Interior Department, EPA and
related agencies; $207.4 billion for the Labor, Health and Human
Services and Education departments and related agencies; $6.9 billion
for legislative branch entities; $154.2 billion for the Veterans
Affairs Department, military construction, and related agencies; $59.7
billion for the State Department and related agencies; and $87.3
billion for the Transportation and Housing and Urban Development
departments and related agencies." The vote was on a motion to concur.
The House concurred with the Senate amendment by a vote of 225-201, thus
bill was sent to President Biden and ultimately became law. [House Vote
549, 12/23/22;
Congressional Quarterly,
12/23/22; Congressional
Actions, S.Amdt.
6552;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
2617]
The FY 2023 Omnibus Provided $54.7 Billion To The Department Of
Energy, Army Corps Of Engineers And Bureau Of Reclamation, Which Was
A $1.8 Billion More Than FY 2022 But $2.8 Billion Less Than The
Senate Democratic Proposal. According to E&E News, "The
Energy-Water portion of the omnibus would provide $54.7 billion for
the Department of Energy, Army Corps of Engineers and Bureau of
Reclamation, an increase of $1.8 billion compared with the current
fiscal year but $2.8 billion less than the Senate Democratic
version released earlier this year." [E&E News,
12/20/22]
The FY 2023 Omnibus Provided $46.5 Billion To The Department Of
Energy. According to E&E News, "DOE would get $46.5 billion,
around $1.7 billion more than the current year's funding level. The
final number is, however, a $2.8 billion drop from the Senate
Democrats' proposed version and $1.7 billion less than the House
version." [E&E News,
12/20/22]
The FY 2023 Omnibus Provided $8.1 Billion To The Office Of
Science, Which Was Severely Short Of The $50 Billion That Was
Provided Under The CHIPS And Science Act. According to E&E News,
"The bill falls short of authorized levels in the CHIPS and Science
Act, which included the first reauthorization of DOE's Office of
Science at roughly $50 billion over five years. The omnibus would
provide $8.1 billion for the bureau." [E&E News,
12/20/22]
The FY 2023 Omnibus Included $3.5 Billion For The Office Of
Energy Efficiency And Renewable Energy And $470 Million For The
Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy. According to E&E News,
"The package includes $3.5 billion for DOE's Office of Energy
Efficiency & Renewable Energy (EERE), a $260 million increase over
fiscal 2022 levels. The Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy
would see $470 million, $20 million over current funding levels."
[E&E News,
12/20/22]
The FY 2023 Omnibus Provided $1.7 Billion For The Department Of
Energy's Nuclear Energy Program And $200 Million For Cybersecurity
And Energy Security Programs. According to E&E News, "DOE's
nuclear energy program would be funded at $1.7 billion, with the
bill supporting a high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) program
for advanced reactor fuel development. The legislation would also
provide $200 million for DOE's cybersecurity and energy security
programs." [E&E News,
12/20/22]
Regarding International Climate And Environment Programs, The FY
2023 Omnibus Provided $125 Million For The Clean Technology Fund
And $385 Million For Biodiversity And Conservation. According to
E&E News, "The State and Foreign Operations title of the spending
bill would offer largely even funding levels for a variety of other
international climate and environment programs, including $125
million for the Clean Technology Fund and $385 million for
biodiversity and conservation." [E&E News,
12/20/22]
2022: Fitzpatrick Voted Against Appropriating $48.2 Billion To The
Energy Department For FY 2023, Including $21.2 Billion For The National
Nuclear Security Administration, $7.9 Billion For Environmental Cleanup
Activities, And $4 Billion For Energy Efficiency And Renewable
Energy. In July 2022, according to Congressional Quarterly,
Fitzpatrick voted against the Transportation, Housing and Urban
Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2023, which would
"provide $48.2 billion for the Energy Department, including $21.2
billion for the National Nuclear Security Administration; $7.9 billion
for environmental cleanup; and $4 billion for energy efficiency and
renewable energy." The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by
a vote 220-207, thus the bill was sent to the Senate. The Senate did not
take substantive action on the legislation. Congress passed and signed
into law the FY 2023 Budget through H.R. 2617. [House Vote 383,
7/20/22; Congressional
Quarterly, 7/20/22;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
8294]
2019: Fitzpatrick Voted For The FY 2020 Minibus Appropriations Bill,
Which Provided $38.6 Billion For The Energy Department, Almost Half Of
Which Is For Nuclear Weapons Activities. In December 2019, Fitzpatrick
voted for the FY 2020 minibus spending bill, which represented 8 of the
12 appropriations bills. According to Congressional Quarterly, "The bill
provides a total of $38.6 billion for the Energy Department --- $2.9
billion (8%) more than FY 2019 funding and $7.1 billion (22%) more than
requested. Within the total provided for the department, almost half
($16.7 billion) is for nuclear weapons activities conducted by the
National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) and another $6.3
billion is for continued environmental cleanup of defense facilities
where nuclear weapons activities were conducted. When including
non-defense cleanup programs, the bill provides a total of $7.5 billion
for environmental cleanup. It provides $7.0 billion for the Energy
Department's science account --- $415 million (6%) more than FY 2019
and $1.5 billion (26%) more than requested. The account funds the
department's work on basic energy research, nuclear physics, biological
and environmental sciences, fusion and other related endeavors. It
rejects the administration's request to eliminate funding for the
Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) research program and
instead provides $425 million ($59 million, or 16%, more than FY
2019). ARPA-E supports research and related projects attempting to
rapidly develop energy technologies that are too risky to attract
substantial private investment." The vote was a motion to concur in the
Senate amendment. The House agreed to the motion by a vote of 297-120.
The Senate later passed the bill and the President signed the bill into
law. [House Vote 689,
12/17/19; Congressional
Quarterly, 12/17/19;
Congressional Actions,
H.R.1865]
The FY 2020 Minibus Provided $2.8 Billion For The Energy
Department's Energy Efficiency And Renewable Energy Account And
Other Research And Development Programs. According to
Congressional Quarterly, "The bill provides $2.8 billion for the
Energy Department's energy efficiency and renewable-energy account
--- $411 million (17%) more than the FY 2019 total and
$2.4 billion more than requested. It provides $750 million for
research and development of fossil fuels, including ways to make the
use of such fuels more efficient and sustainable. The total is $10
million more than FY 2019 and $188 million (33%) more than
requested. The measure provides $1.5 billion for nuclear power
development and research, $167 million (13%) more than FY 2019 and
$669 million (81%) more than requested. Nuclear energy funding
includes multiple programs, such as spacecraft propulsion systems,
cancer treatment technology and reactor technologies."
[Congressional Quarterly,
12/17/19]
Democrats Won Their Push Increasing Energy Department Funding
Despite White House Efforts To Slash Spending. According to the
Washington Post, "The package did fulfill one major Democratic
demand: Sustaining funding at energy and environmental agencies. The
spending bill [...] increases funding for basic scientific
research at the Energy Department by $415 million, despite efforts
by the White House to slash spending within [the] department."
[Washington Post,
12/18/19]
2019: Fitzpatrick Voted Against An Amendment To The FY 2020 Minibus
That Reduced Spending For Energy And Water Development By 14 Percent.
In June 2019, Fitzpatrick voted against an amendment that would,
according to Congressional Quarterly, "reduce by 14 percent all funding
made available by the Energy and Water Development and related agencies
title of the bill (Division E), not including amounts made available for
the Defense Department." The vote was on adoption of the amendment. The
House rejected the amendment by a vote of 132-302. [House Vote 365,
6/19/19; Congressional
Quarterly, 6/19/19;
Congressional Actions,
H.Amdt.386;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
2740]
2019: Fitzpatrick Voted Against An Amendment To The FY 2020 Minibus
That Reduced Spending For Energy And Water Development By 5 Percent.
In June 2019, Fitzpatrick voted against an amendment that would,
according to Congressional Quarterly, "reduce by 5 percent all funding
made available by the Energy and Water Development and related agencies
title of the bill." The vote was on adoption of the amendment. The House
rejected the amendment by a vote of 146-288. [House Vote 358,
6/19/19; Congressional
Quarterly, 6/19/19;
Congressional Actions,
H.Amdt.379;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
2740]
2018: Fitzpatrick Voted For The $1.3 Trillion FY 2018 Omnibus
Spending Deal Which Raised Spending By $138 Billion Over FY 2017
Levels, Including $34.5 Billion For The Energy Department. In March
2018, Fitzpatrick voted for the FY 2018 Omnibus spending bill. According
to Congressional Quarterly, "Combined, the spending measures would
provide about $1.3 trillion in discretionary spending, with $1.2
trillion subject to discretionary spending caps, and $78.1 billion
designated as Overseas Contingency Operations funds. The measure's
spending levels are consistent with the increased defense and
non-defense budget caps set by the two-year budget deal agreed to last
month. That agreement increased the FY 2018 defense cap by $80 billion
and the non-defense cap by $63 billion. Given that the previous caps
were set to reduce overall discretionary spending by $5 billion, the
net increase provided by the omnibus is $138 billion over the FY 2017
level." The vote was on the motion to concur in the Senate Amendment
with an Amendment. The House agreed to the motion, thereby passing the
bill, by a vote of 256 to 167. The Senate later agreed to the
legislation, sending it to the president, who signed it into law.
[House Vote 127,
3/22/18; Congressional
Quarterly, 3/22/18; Congressional
Actions, H.R.
1625]
Bill Appropriated $34.5 Billion For The Energy Department, A
Twelve Percent Increase Over FY 2017. According to Congressional
Quarterly, "The agreement provides a total of $34.5 billion for the
Energy Department --- $3.8 billion (12%) more than FY 2017 funding
and $6.6 billion (24%) more than requested. Almost half the
measure's funding for the department is for military nuclear
programs ($14.7 billion), representing a 13% increase over FY 2017
levels. The agreement also largely rejects the president's proposed
deep cuts to science and applied energy programs, providing a total
of $6.3 billion --- representing a $868 million (16%) increase
from FY 2017 and $1.8 billion (40%) more than requested."
[Congressional Quarterly,
3/22/18]
Bill Appropriated $2.3 Billion For The Energy Department's Energy
Efficiently And Renewable-Energy Account, Including A $25 Million
Increase For Solar Energy Research. According to Congressional
Quarterly, "The measure provides $2.3 billion for the Energy
Department's energy efficiency and renewable-energy account, $232
million (11%) more than the FY 2017 total. The account funds
research and development of alternative energy sources such as
biomass fuels, hydrogen technologies and solar power. Compared to FY
2017, it increases research on solar energy by $25 million, wind
energy by $2 million, water power by $21 million and geothermal
technologies by $11 million. It also increases sustainable
transportation research (such as vehicle and fuel technologies
(including hydrogen and fuel cell technologies) by 10%, and energy
efficiency research for building and manufacturing by 10%. The
administration proposed substantial cuts to all the programs within
the account." [Congressional Quarterly,
3/22/18]
Bill Appropriated $727 Million For Fossil Fuel R&D. According
to Congressional Quarterly, "The measure provides $727 million for
research and development of fossil fuels, including ways to make the
use of such fuels more efficient and sustainable. The total is $59
million (9%) more than FY 2017. It includes $112 million for
Advanced Energy Systems, which includes $30 million for the solid
oxide fuel cell system designed to increase coal use efficiency,
$98 million for carbon storage ($7 million more than FY 2017) and
$101 million for carbon capture (slightly more than current
funding). The total includes $35 million in unrequested funds to
support two large-scale pilot programs that are to focus on
transformational coal technologies that represent a new way to
convert energy and enable a step change in performance, efficiency
and the cost of electricity compared to today's technologies."
[Congressional Quarterly,
3/22/18]
2024: Fitzpatrick Voted Against Reducing The Salary Of The Director Of
The Energy Department's Loan Programs Office To $1. In July 2024,
Fitzpatrick voted against , according to Congressional Quarterly,
"amendment no. 63 that would reduce to $1 the salary of Jigar Shah, the
director of the Energy Department's Loan Programs Office." The vote was
on the amendment. The underlying legislation was the FY 2025
Energy-Water appropriations. The House rejected the amendment by a vote
of 158 to 257. [House Vote 378,
7/23/24; Congressional
Quarterly, 7/23/24;
Congressional Actions,
H.Amdt.1121;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
8997]
2024: Fitzpatrick Voted Against Eliminating Funding For The Office Of
Clean Energy Demonstrations. In July 2024, Fitzpatrick voted against ,
according to Congressional Quarterly, "amendment no. 62 that would
prohibit the use of funds provided by the bill for the Energy
Department's Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations." The vote was on
the amendment. The underlying legislation was the FY 2025 Energy-Water
appropriations. The House rejected the amendment by a vote of 145 to
273. [House Vote 377,
7/23/24; Congressional
Quarterly, 7/23/24;
Congressional Actions,
H.Amdt.1120;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
8997]
2024: Fitzpatrick Voted Against Eliminating Funding For The Office Of
Energy Efficiency And Renewable Energy. In July 2024, Fitzpatrick
voted against , according to Congressional Quarterly, "amendment no. 56
that would remove all funding for Energy Department's Office of Energy
Efficiency and Renewable Energy programs and activities." The vote was
on the amendment. The underlying legislation was the FY 2025
Energy-Water appropriations. The House rejected the amendment by a vote
of 144 to 277. [House Vote 376,
7/23/24; Congressional
Quarterly, 7/23/24;
Congressional Actions,
H.Amdt.1117;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
8997]