WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, delivered the following opening statement at today’s markup of 10 bills.
Chairman Guthrie’s opening statement as prepared for delivery:
“Good morning, and thank you all for attending today’s markup. We are taking up several bills that highlight the Committee’s effort to support energy innovation, cut burdensome red tape, and lower costs for hardworking American families.
“We know that success for the nuclear industry—from the fuels, manufacturers, and reactors to the operators and workers—will be essential for long term American technological leadership globally and for reliable and abundant energy here at home.
“We must strive to return to a pace of nuclear expansion that surpasses other nations. And we must do so in a way that strengthens public confidence in American technology.
“This morning we are considering six nuclear related bills that build on the bipartisan reforms we started two years ago with the ADVANCE Act, which improved nuclear permitting, brought the benefits of nuclear energy to Americans faster, and maintained our commitment to safety.
“The bills before us today clarify pay authority, improve transparency, and eliminate unnecessary Atomic Energy Act requirements to ensure licensing runs more smoothly.
“The continued bipartisan work on nuclear policy reflects well on this Committee’s ability to advance critical energy policies, and we’ll see that bipartisan spirit reflected in several of the amendments to the bills before us today. And all of these bills deserve strong bipartisan support.
“We are also examining legislation that would provide needed updates to the Clean Air Act. Outdated provisions in the law have created counterintuitive and burdensome policies that increase costs and negatively impact quality of life across this country. These are commonsense solutions.
“The bills before us will cover a range of issues, including ensuring that the federal government retains the authority to regulate interstate commerce on our nation’s railways, preventing one state from being able to dictate policy for the rest of the nation; and reauthorizing a successful grant program to help bus operators replace old equipment with new technology.
“We will also consider a bill to support the recovery of critical minerals from domestic sources by modernizing and streamlining EPA regulations of lithium-ion batteries, providing greater clarity and certainty for our domestic battery recycling industry.
“I want to thank all of the Members who have worked so hard to help bring these important bills before the Committee today.
“Thank you, and I yield to the Ranking Member for his opening statement.”
