Ranking Member Kaptur hosts “Members’ Day” in Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee

Washington D.C. – Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), Ranking Member on the House Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee, welcomed a broad cross-section of members of Congress from across the country to testify before the subcommittee at a Members' Day hearing On Wednesday, March 8, 2017. Representatives testified before the Subcommittee to highlight critical energy efficiency and infrastructure programs and speak out against any harmful cuts to the Department of Energy (DOE), the Army Corps of Engineers, and other programs.

"Thank you to the lawmakers from across the aisle and across the country for participating in Members' Day. It is important that we listen to one another so we can work together to protect valuable programs from reckless or draconian cuts," said Kaptur.

"As Ranking Member on Appropriations' Energy and Water Subcommittee, I will lead the charge to protect programs that improve energy efficiency, make our country more energy independent, and bolster our water infrastructure. These programs create jobs and defend our precious natural resources, which in many communities like mine in Ohio, drive good jobs in tourism, construction, fishing and beyond," Kaptur continued.

Members from both parties spoke about critical energy efficiency, water infrastructure other critical programs. Below are a few highlights from Members of Congress' prepared remarks at today's Member Day:

Rep. Rick Nolan (MN-08) testified about the Soo Locks and its economic impact

"The economic importance of the Soo Locks can hardly be over-emphasized. It is vital that the Congress provide sufficient funding for the Army Corps of Engineers' Navigation program so that projects like this can move forward. This is a great long-term investment for our Nation. We are talking about more efficiency; economic growth; more business opportunity and investment; and more good paying middle-class jobs."

Rep. Jared Polis (CO-02) testified about Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Fund

"EERE funds national labs such as the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in my home state of Colorado. From 2009 to the end of 2015, EERE's building Technologies Office finalized 40 new or updated efficiency standards for more than 45 household and commercial products, estimated to save consumers more than $543 billion and reduce pollution by 2.3 billion metric tons through 2030."

Rep. Bill Foster (IL-11) testified about the importance of funding for DOE's Office of Science, which supports, among other items, vital pharmaceutical and solar research

"I would urge this Subcommittee to seize the opportunity to put our researchers at ease by providing funding that supports the critical work of the Department of Energy's Office of Science."

Rep. Bill Huizenga (MI-02) testified about efforts to increase U.S. Army Corps of Engineers harbor maintenance funding

"Full use of Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund is urgently needed to support critical maritime economic activity. […] This funding is especially vital for the 140 federally maintained commercial and recreational ports and harbors in the Great Lakes, many of which are facing a crisis."

Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (TX-18) testified about many different energy, water, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and highlighted DOE's Wind Energy program

"The Wind Energy Program improves our nation's renewable energy goals by furthering advancements in wind energy research and technologies, including wind energy project design, optimization, and testing. The program also conducts important research to increase capacity for distributed wind, which has the ability to harness the full potential of rural America to play a major role to lower the costs for consumers."