Energy

• We must maintain our energy security, while protecting consumers and the environment.
• Congresswoman McCarthy has been a leader in Congress in pushing for a national energy policy that, comprehensively, promotes more clean energy and more domestic drilling of oil and gas.
• We must do more to promote policies that reduce our dependence on foreign oil to improve our national security and reduce the cost of gas for American consumers.

Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program

Over the last 4 years, Congresswoman McCarthy was the Chairwoman of the Healthy Families and Communities Subcommittee, which had jurisdiction over the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). While the Subcommittee has been eliminated this year, Rep. McCarthy continues to strongly support LIHEAP programs. LIHEAP provides funds to states so that they may help low-income households pay home energy expenses. States may use LIHEAP funds to assist families with heating and cooling costs, provide crisis assistance, and pay for weatherization projects. She has continuously been a lead in the fight for increased funding for LIHEAP during annual appropriations.

Investing in Clean, Efficient, American Energy

The American Clean Energy and Security Act

This legislation is a comprehensive approach to America's energy policy that will create millions of new clean energy jobs, save consumers hundreds of billions of dollars in energy costs, enhance America's energy independence, and cut global warming pollution.  The legislation has received wide support from electric utilities; energy companies; manufacturing, industry, and corporate companies; labor unions; and community and environmental organizations. The House of Representatives passed H.R. 2454 by a vote of 219-212 on June 26, 2009. It has not been introduced yet in the 112^thCongress.

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

On February 13th, 2009, Congress passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to save and create jobs, get our economy moving again, and transform it for long-term growth and stability.

ARRA will help to reduce our dependence on foreign oil by doubling our renewable energy production and renovating public buildings to make them more energy efficient. The energy provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will create more than 500,000 jobs, and accelerate deployment of smart grid technology, provide energy efficiency funds for the nation’s schools, offer support for the nation’s governors and mayors to tackle their energy challenges, and establish a new loan guarantee program to keep our transition to renewable energy on track during the economic crisis.

Energy Independence and Security Act

In the 110^thCongress, Congress made strides towards assuring American energy independence by passing the Energy Independence and Security Act.  This legislation includes provisions to combat oil market manipulation, increase vehicle fuel efficiency to 35 miles per gallon by 2020 – the first Congressional increase in more than three decades—and promote the use of more affordable American biofuels. 

Protecting the nation against cyber attacks

The Grid Reliability and Infrastructure Defense (“GRID”) Act

This legislation would amend the Federal Power Act to give the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC” or the “Commission”) authority to issue emergency orders for utilities to take protective action when the president declares a grid security “threat.”  The legislation also would direct FERC to address system vulnerabilities to cyber and electromagnetic attacks.  The bipartisan bill passed in the House by voice vote in June 2010. It died in the Senate. It has not been reintroduced yet.