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As energy costs rise, there is a direct effect on our economy and the pocketbooks of every American. New Hampshire families feel the impact not only when they try to fill their cars or heat and light their homes, but also when they go to the store and the price for food and other goods have gone up. A diverse and sustainable energy portfolio is vital to ensuring our nation's energy security and lessening our dependence on foreign sources, in addition to helping the private sector create jobs and grow our economy. We need to pursue a combination of responsibly expanding the domestic production and development of traditional energy sources at home while increasing our use of new technologies and alternative forms of energy in order to keep energy costs down, and available for the future. In addition, we must also focus on using the energy we currently produce today in a more efficient manner. There is not one solution to our nation's energy needs, but a combination of solutions both new and old. • I support the expansion of domestic energy exploration both on land and offshore, but remain committed to ensuring it is done in an environmentally responsible manner. • I am a strong supporter of energy efficiency and renewable energy research programs. In 2011, I cosponsored a fully-offset, bipartisan amendment to the Fiscal Year 2012 Energy and Water Appropriations Bill (which passed 214-213) that would restore funding to 2011 levels for the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E), a program within the Department of Energy that pursues energy research projects by collaborating with the energy industry and academia. ARPA-E is modeled after the successful Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the agency responsible for technological innovations such as the Internet and the stealth technology found in the F-117A and other modern fighter aircraft. ARPA-E is vital in helping to turn revolutionary and innovative ideas into new technologies to solve our energy challenges. • I am also a strong supporter of ensuring sufficient funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which helps hundreds of New Hampshire families pay the cost of their home heating bills, which have been skyrocketing. To that end, I fought to have an amendment that I introduced included in the 2011 Continuing Resolution to restore funding for the emergency contingency fund, and I have signed onto several bipartisan, widely-supported letters to the Appropriations Committee and the Obama Administration to ensure adequate funding for this program. We can meet individuals' needs in a fiscally-responsible manner and I will continue to work to ensure New Hampshire families are not left in the cold during the winter months.
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