Whip McCarthy Statement on Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act

Washington, D.C. – Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (CA-23) released the following statement on passage of H.R. 4923, the FY 2015 Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act: 

“As energy-rich regions around the world shift toward instability, we need to ensure we remain on a path toward energy-independent North America. The Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2015 promotes an all-of-the-above energy approach to encourage economic growth and energy independence while also supporting basic energy research, the development of high-performance computing systems, and research into the next generation of clean energy sources to reduce the nation’s dependence on foreign oil.

“However, in the face of promising innovations and technologies that increase our energy potential, this Administration is persistent in overregulation. Today’s vote protects small businesses and families from the Administration’s regulatory overreach on private property that will curtail energy development.

“On top of its support for America’s energy future, the bill invests in our nation’s nuclear defense capabilities and ensures that the Army Corps of Engineers has the resources it needs to fulfill its mission of maintaining America’s water infrastructure.

“One of the most basic responsibilities of the Congress is to pass a budget and to pass appropriations bills. The House has now finished half of the appropriations bills required of this body. Meanwhile, the Senate has not taken up one—not one—appropriations bill despite our bipartisan bicameral budget agreement earlier this year.

“I would like to thank Chairman Hal Rogers for his and his committee’s work in ensuring that we pass appropriations bills quickly and smoothly this year.”