Pallone’s Opening Remarks at Energy Subcommittee Markup

Energy and Commerce Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) delivered the following opening remarks today at an Energy Subcommittee markup:

Mr. Chairman, when it comes to energy policy, we've had a good working relationship. It has been honest and constructive, even when our policy differences have led us to go our separate ways. But, today, I'm deeply concerned over the process that the Majority has used for this markup.

For the past few weeks, our staff had been negotiating with yours in good faith on hydroelectric license reform. We were encouraged by what we saw as your willingness to move legislative language that was, while not yet acceptable to my caucus, a very significant step closer to reforms that could speed the licensing process without sacrificing environmental protections or state and tribal rights. Those negotiations seemed to be moving forward in a productive manner and we were willing to allow your legislative draft from the May 3rd hearing to move forward without amendment or recorded vote. And we may still be willing to do that. However, the draft released on Tuesday night not only failed to address any of the concerns we raised, but actually went so far as to add new sections taken directly from provisions of last year's Senate energy bill that we had explicitly rejected. This does not bode well for making this a bipartisan process.

The Chairman also insisted on marking up legislation on state energy security plans that our Members first saw Tuesday night and that has never been the subject of a legislative hearing or Member-level discussion of any kind. This is not bad legislation, but we are marking it up today without any formal feedback from members of this Committee or stakeholders.

And then there is H.R. 2910, the natural gas pipeline permit streamlining bill, which is a completely new and different bill than the one that was discussed at our legislative hearing last month. And, it's clear from the text provided with the markup notice –dated June 14th—that you had this language for almost a full week before sharing it with us.

We want to work with you where we can but that relationship, whether we're collaborating on bills or contesting legislation on which we disagree, requires a level of trust. And if we are to have that trust and be productive, this is not the way we should be doing business with each other on behalf of the American people.

I will speak to the individual bills as they come up, but I hope that today's issues represent an aberration and not a new and unfortunate way of doing business.

Thank you, I yield back.

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