Senate panel advances energy infrastructure funding bill

The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy, Water Development and Related Agencies approved the fiscal 2016 Energy and Water Development Appropriations Bill on Tuesday.

If passed, the bill would provide the Department of Energy with $35.4 billion, which would be utilized to ensure nuclear security, facilitate research and development, and finance infrastructure projects.

“Governing is about setting priorities, and this legislation supports energy research, waterways and national security. The subcommittee’s intensive oversight of the president’s budget request has also cut waste in the U.S. Department of Energy,” Subcommittee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-TN) said. “Because of today’s vote, we are one step closer to doubling basic energy research, removing major obstacles to nuclear power, cleaning up hazardous materials at Cold War facilities and solving critical problems facing our country. Senator (Dianne) Feinstein (D-CA) and I worked hard to create a bipartisan bill, and I look forward to its consideration by the full Appropriations Committee.”

The bill would increase overall funding by $1.2 billion over the previous year's bill, with $12.3 billion set aside for nuclear weapons security and related activity, The Army Corps of Engineers will be funded with $5.5 billion, and $6 billion has been set aside for environmental clean-up activity. The bill also includes funding at higher levels for research, development and energy programs.

The bill now heads to the full Senate Appropriations Committee for consideration.