The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Energy was published in the in the Senate section section on pages S1001-S1002 on March 28.
The Department oversees energy policies and is involved in how the US handles nuclear programs. Downsizing the Federal Government, a project aimed at lowering taxes and boosting federal efficiency, said the Department's misguided energy regulations have caused large losses to consumers for decades.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS
By Mr. THUNE (for himself, Ms. Sinema, Mr. Boozman, and Mr.
Kelly):
S. 997. A bill to amend the Clean Air Act to prohibit the issuance of permits under title V of that Act for certain emissions from agricultural production; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
Mr. THUNE. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.
There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be printed in the Record, as follows:
S. 997
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Livestock Regulatory Protection Act of 2023''.
SEC. 2. PROHIBITION ON PERMITTING CERTAIN EMISSIONS FROM
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION.
Section 502(f) of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7661a(f)) is amended--
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (3) as clauses
(i) through (iii), respectively, and indenting appropriately;
(2) in the undesignated matter following clause (iii) (as so redesignated), by striking ``Approval of'' and inserting the following:
``(B) No relief of obligation.--Approval of'';
(3) by striking the subsection designation and heading and all that follows through ``No partial'' in the matter preceding clause (i) (as so redesignated) and inserting the following:
``(f) Prohibitions.--
``(1) Partial permit programs.--
``(A) In general.--No partial''; and
(4) by adding at the end the following:
``(2) Certain emissions from agricultural production.--No permit shall be issued under a permit program under this title for any carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide, water vapor, or methane emissions resulting from biological processes associated with livestock production.''.
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By Mr. REED (for himself, Ms. Collins, Mr. Coons, and Mrs.
Shaheen):
S. 1005. A bill to amend the Energy Conservation and Production Act to improve the weatherization assistance program, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Mr. REED. Madam President, today I am introducing the Weatherization Assistance Program Improvements Act, along with Senators Collins, Coons, and Shaheen. Our bipartisan bill will make critical updates to ensure this important program can effectively serve even more households across the country.
Since 1976, the Weatherization Assistance Program has helped more than 7.4 million low-income households reduce their energy bills by making their homes more energy efficient. The Department of Energy estimates that these upgrades help each household save $372 in energy bills annually. Those energy savings free up limited financial resources for essentials, like groceries and medicine.
In addition to traditional services like attic and wall insulation, the program also provides services that help with home health and safety measures, such as installing smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Energy efficient homes also help cut down on our carbon footprint, reducing the greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change.
An independent study of the Weatherization Assistance Program by Oak Ridge National Laboratory found that children in weatherized households miss less school, improving educational outcomes. Adults miss less work, increasing both their own incomes and their contributions to the economy. Families also reported experiencing fewer flu and cold symptoms and emergency room visits, decreasing costly medical expenses.
The Weatherization Assistance Program also helps boost our economy. The program supports over 8,500 jobs for energy experts and contractors, while increasing our national economic output by $1.2 billion.
The program is a win-win for all involved. That is why, as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I have led my colleagues in supporting strong funding for it every year. And that is why I am introducing this bill--to ensure it continues to work for years to come.
This bill will help expand the program to many more low-income households that are currently unable to receive weatherization services because their homes need minor structural repairs before then can be weatherized. The bill will authorize a Weatherization Readiness Fund to repair structural issues and prepare homes for weatherization assistance, increasing the number of homes the program is able to serve.
At the same time, it will raise the amount of funding allowed to be spent on each home to keep up with current labor and material costs, and it will raise the cap on the amount of funding allowed to be spent on renewable energy upgrades in each home. These provisions are essential updates to a program that has helped so many families over the past few decades.
I urge my colleagues to join us in supporting this commonsense legislation.
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