Energy and Environment
Congressman Dutch Ruppersberger feels honored to represent a state that is home to the Atlantic Ocean and the Chesapeake Bay as well as a district that features hundreds of miles of shoreline. He has been recognized nationally for his commitment to conservation and sensible approach to energy policy. Dutch believes:
Saving the Chesapeake Bay means saving jobs.
The Chesapeake Bay contributes $1 trillion to the economies of its 6-state watershed, including Maryland. Dutch supported one of the most aggressive Bay clean-up bills in decades – the Chesapeake Clean Water & Ecosystem Restoration Act – which requires states to meet strict pollution caps and authorizes new funding to reduce run-off. He has proudly secured millions of federal dollars for projects in and around the Bay, such as the reconstruction of menhaden and oyster habitats essential to improving water quality.
A strong Clean Water Act and Clean Air Act will improve the quality of life for all Americans.
The public relies on the government to protect our only two universally-used resources: water and air. For decades, the federal Clean Water Act and Clean Air Act have been responsible for ensuring these life-giving resources are available for generations to come. Dutch has opposed – and will continue to oppose – unreasonable legislation and legislative riders that would weaken these acts as well as the Environmental Protection Agency’s ability to enforce them.
We must take an “all of the above” approach to energy policy.
Dutch is deeply concerned about our dependence on hostile foreign countries for oil. Our country uses 25 percent of the oil consumed in the world, but sits atop only 3 percent of the world’s oil reserves. So he believes all options – including wind, solar power and nuclear energy – should be on the table.
Climate change is real and we must act now to mitigate its effects.
Scientific evidence has proven that human activity is contributing to global climate change. Dutch supported landmark efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent before 2050 by requiring polluters to purchase carbon credits to fund energy efficiency programs. He supports funding for programs to help manufacturers and farmers reduce their carbon output and tax credits to help American businesses and homeowners reduce their energy use and lower their utility bills. These investments can help substantially reduce pollution while creating millions of jobs, such as installing solar panels, manufacturing wind turbines and renovating homes.
Mass transit is a strategic investment that will keep American workers and American products on the move and reduce our carbon footprint.
Every American business and worker relies on dependable and efficient transit, including our highways, runways, railways and waterways. For every $1 billion of federal funds invested in transit infrastructure, we create or save about 34,800 jobs in some of the hardest-hit industries. Dutch always supports robust transportation funding during the annual appropriations process. He is actively working with partners in local government, as well as private investors, to determine how best to improve mass transit in the I-95 corridor, which is one of the most congested in the country.
Lake Berryessa Recreation Enhancement Act of 2016
More on Energy and Environment
(Timonium, MD) — The U.S. House of Representatives yesterday passed bipartisan legislation that authorizes funding for our nation’s ports, harbors and waterways, including the Port of Baltimore. The “Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act” passed in a 360-61 vote and is now under consideration by the U.S. Senate. Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger issued the following statement:
(Washington, DC) — Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger today issued the following statement regarding the treatment of protesters and the controversy over the Dakota Access Pipeline:
(Washington, DC) – Congressmen C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD) and Don Young (R-AK) last week introduced bipartisan legislation that will help local and state governments build coastal resiliency along the nation’s 95,000 miles of shoreline. The “Digital Coast Act” will provide coastal communities with updated mapping data that can be used to prepare for storms, manage floods, restore ecosystems and plan smarter developments near America’s coasts, harbors, ports and shorelines.
"The House of Representatives has just considered yet another attack on the Clean Water Act and efforts to restore our nation’s watersheds. Today, I voted against the Regulatory Integrity Protection Act, which would continue years of confusion about which waterways are covered by federal environmental protection laws and which are not.
(Washington, D.C.) –Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD) today supported more than $48.6 million in federal funding to protect Maryland’s environment and keep commerce moving through the Chesapeake Bay and Baltimore Harbor. The 2016 “Energy & Water Development Appropriations Act” passed the House today in a bipartisan vote of 240 – 177.
(Washington, D.C.) – Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger issued a statement on today’s vote against S. 1, or the “Keystone XL Pipeline Act,” which President Obama has threatened to veto.
(Washington, DC) – Congress has passed bipartisan legislation authorizing funding for improvements to America’s ports and waterways that will help protect jobs in Baltimore, Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger said today. The conference report on H.R. 3080, the “Water Resources and Development Act,” which also authorizes funding for projects tied to drinking water, dams, levees and environmental restoration, just passed the House of Representatives in a 412-4 vote.
Congressman Ruppersberger released the following statement: