Lamar Alexander Named Ranking Republican Member on Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee

Oversees Funding of Oak Ridge, Y-12, Tennessee Locks and Dams “After we reduce spending, we still must set priorities that make it easier and cheaper to create private-sector jobs.” – Lamar Alexander MARYVILLE – U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) announced today that he has been chosen to serve during the 112th Congress as the highest-ranking Republican, known as the “Ranking Member,” on the Senate Committee on Appropriations’ Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, which has jurisdiction over funding for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Department of Energy – including scientific and nuclear weapons national laboratories.

“After we reduce spending, we still must set priorities that make it easier and cheaper to create private-sector jobs. This position will allow me to make sure that priorities like research at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, nuclear weapons modernization at Y-12, dredging at the Memphis Port, and construction at Chickamauga Lock and the Wolf Creek and Center Hill Dams get the attention they deserve.”

Last year, the Energy and Water Subcommittee held a hearing at Alexander’s request to examine the response of federal agencies, including the Army Corps of Engineers, and helped spur improvements in flood-prediction systems and flood response. Alexander led the questioning of the agencies as a member of the subcommittee.

Alexander also will serve as a member of five other Appropriations subcommittees during the 112th Congress: Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies; Defense; Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies; Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies; and Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies.

In addition to the Appropriations Committee, Alexander will serve on three other Senate committees during the 112th Congress: the Committee on Rules and Administration; the Committee on Environment and Public Works; and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. He was elected to serve as “Ranking Member” on the Committee on Rules and Administration earlier this week, which you can read more about here.

Alexander also was reelected unanimously to serve as Chairman of the Senate Republican Conference, the third-ranking member of the Senate GOP leadership, during the 112th Congress. # # #

February 4 2011

TEXT and IMAGE CREDIT: U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander Washington Office. 455 Dirksen Senate Office Building. Washington, DC 20510 Phone: (202) 224-4944 Fax: (202) 228-3398 TTY: (202) 224-1546

Fred Upton Ed Whitfield James Inhofe The Energy Tax Prevention Act of 2011 FULL TEXT

Upton, Whitfield, Inhofe Unveil Energy Tax Prevention Act to Protect America’s Jobs & Families. The Energy Tax Prevention Act of 2011 FULL TEXT in PDF FORMAT

Washington, D.C.—Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.), Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Rep. Ed Whitfield (R-Ky), Chairman of the Energy and Power Subcommittee, and Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, issued a joint statement today on the release of their discussion draft, “The Energy Tax Prevention Act of 2011.” The Energy and Power Subcommittee will hold a hearing on the draft legislation next Wednesday, February 9th at 10:00am.

Reps. Upton and Whitfield and Sen. Inhofe are releasing the draft as part of a deliberative process with their colleagues on both sides of the aisle to discuss the most effective approach to stop EPA’s cap and trade agenda. The draft legislation is based on the belief that 1) Congress, not EPA bureaucrats, should be in charge of setting America’s climate change policy; and that 2) A 2-year delay of EPA’s cap-and-trade agenda provides no meaningful certainty for job creators, fails to protect jobs, and punts decision-making in Congress on a critically important economic issue past the voters and the election next year.

“The Energy Tax Prevention Act of 2011” would:

* Stop EPA bureaucrats from making legislative decisions that should be made by Congress;
* Clarify that the Clean Air Act was not written by Congress to address climate change;
* Stop EPA bureaucrats from imposing a backdoor cap-and-trade tax that would make gasoline, electricity, fertilizer, and groceries more expensive for consumers; and
* Protect American jobs and manufacturers from overreaching EPA regulations that hinder our ability to compete with China and other countries.

“With this draft proposal, we are initiating a deliberative, transparent process that we hope will prevent EPA from imposing by regulation the massive cap-and-trade tax that Congress rejected last year. We firmly believe federal bureaucrats should not be unilaterally setting national climate change policy, and with good reason: EPA’s cap-and-trade tax agenda will cost jobs, undermine the competitiveness of America’s manufacturers, and, as EPA has conceded, will have no meaningful impact on climate. In other words, all cost with no benefit. America’s consumers, large and small businesses, farmers, and entrepreneurs should not carry this burden. We look forward to working with our colleagues on both sides of the aisle, and the Obama Administration, to pass and sign into law legislation that stops EPA, puts Congress in charge, and helps get our economy growing again.”

TEXT and IMAGE CREDIT: House Energy and Commerce Committee January 11, 2011 By Alexa Marrero, (202) 225-3641 or Sean Bonyun, (202) 225-3761 2125 Rayburn House Office Building | Washington, DC 20515 | (202) 225-2927