His 20 plus category here back in July when we moved that that markup we had included our nuclear energy Leadership Act Senator Mansion's legislation that focused on carbon capture utilization sequestration I had a bill in there to improve our nation's mineral security There's are all pretty good pillars for a bipartisan energy package and I'm pleased that we're on track to report several more today First among them is energy storage which we will report as a joint staff substitute amendment to S 1602 which is Senator Collins Energy Storage Technology act we chose her bill as our baseball as a reflection of her strong leadership on energy storage and clean technologies in general but also because she named her bill a really good name it's the best act. We gotta take it. So let that be a lesson to you You wanna have your name go forward name it a good name got an app for that There must be an app for that actually talk to your young staffers and I'm sure they'll help you out with our joint staff amendment Collins Best Act will be even more comprehensive and include provisions from all of the storage related measures that were referred to our Committee those range from research and development to demonstration and pilot projects to critical energy storage materials recycling to direction for four to simplify the cost recovery process for storage resources In addition to Senator Collins a number of members on our Committee played a key role in putting this package together, I particularly like to thank Senator Gardner McSally Mansion Stabenow Heinrich King Herod and Cortez Masto many others including Senators Moran Crapo Smith Club chart and Coons also played a role I really do think that this is appropriately named. It truly is best in the tradition of this Committee, which is known for its bipartisanship and constructive engagement It also shows continues to show that the Senate could work and produce good legislation. If we let it another agenda item is as a 20 - 300 the Clean Industrial Technology Act from Senators White House, Capitol Mansion Braun, Booker, Collins and Feinstein. This is a But it's pretty straightforward It seeks to reduce emissions from industrial sources we don't seem to have many good options to do that right now. So this is a Prime area for the federal government to provide reasonable voluntary incentives I also wanna mention as 20 - 130 - seven, the Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act. This is Senator Portman Senator Shane and some others for several Congresses. Now, this has been the Senate's flagship effort on energy efficiency and I'm hopeful that we're gonna be The law I also recognize that we need to make some some further changes to make that possible There's a provision within the bill known as the Safe Act, which falls under the jurisdiction of the banking Committee which appears to oppose its inclusion Another concern is the building codes provision which is largely voluntary in nature, but strongly opposed by some stakeholders who are concerned by potential adverse applications I have supported the the Portman Shane Shane Portman over the years in previous Congress I'm certainly prepared to move the bill forward to today recognizing the importance of efficiency and the interest of developing a bipartisan energy package but I will add that I think we need to work through these issues that I have just mentioned and I'm concerned that if we can't work through these these prevailing concerns that we may either have to remove them or keep the bill out of our larger effort I really don't wanna do that. So I'm encouraging us all to to figure out How we address these these these two remaining issues I also want to say a few quick words about the water and hydropower bills. We're considering the water bills address significant drought resilience challenges for communities throughout the West water managers are looking for ways to do more with less and it's critical for the federal government to do its part I applaud Senators Barrasso Dane's Gardner, McSally and Rich for working in a bipartisan fashion to improve water security in their States and elsewhere We'll also consider a few bills that promote hydropower and pump storage, which are important sources of renewable electricity including a good measure Senator Cantwell that removes a major disincentive for pump storage I would know that there are few water-related bills that we could not reach agreement on in time for today's markup In particular I look forward to finding a path forward on the Drought Resilience and Water Supply Infrastructure Act from Senator Gardner Feinstein McSally Cinema and Rosen Their bill compliments. Many of those that are before us today and I intend to add it to the agenda of our next markup hopefully in early November and focused on landslide station as usual Process amendments Once we reached a working quantum of seven, we'll pause members statements and proceed to final consideration of the measures on our short list When we have 11 looks like we're pretty close to it I'm gonna be here for at least an hour so it should give us plenty of time to complete our business and for every member to speak should they choose Senator Manchin? Let me turn to your comments Thank you chairman Mikowski for calling us together for our second business meeting of this Congress. We've got another 20 - one bills before us today spanning both important energy in Western water issues. This set of On the good work that we did at our last business meeting and together we'll set a solid base for an energy innovation package since I became ranking member, I've been learning more about water issues facing Western States and I know the water issues out West are very different than what we have in my state of West Virginia but I am trying to get to speed as quickly as we we have a person who wants to build a pipeline for you too One of Southern Gardeners bills related to Colorado Water Project raise some questions for me and we're still waiting on information from the Bureau of Reclamation How many other water projects in the West are in a similar situation as the water district covered by this bill I'm sensitive to the ability of small Organization districts to continue providing water But I wanna make sure that we have a consistent policy for all similar situated projects If there is a threat to the availability of water because of a water district is enabled to make full payments due to acts of God like drought I think that basically we have a responsibility to do something to make sure they're able to perform so I wanted to Senator Gardner we're working through this. We're gonna get this accomplished quicker sooner than later and the recommendation is getting the information we need to make it consistent piece of legislation I'm particularly pleased by the energy storage package that will be considering today This is an example of bipartisan work at its best There are 18 senators whose ideas are incorporated into this bill This legislation authorizes a Crosscutting R and D program at the Department of Energy and directs the Daily and DOD to work together on longer Storage research for both civilian and military applications It also leverages private sector innovation through D O E 's Prize Authority to advance recycling of critical materials used in storage technologies which is essential. If we are to address supply chain vulnerabilities that threaten US leadership in this space I like to acknowledge the work of Senators widen Senator King Colin Smith and Cleopatra who all had individual stories bills that played a role in the substitute Amendment that we're considering the best act today That means the name Bill the best act today The end result is a solid piece of legislation that will make a difference in advancing storage technologies and I'm proud to be adding myself as a co-sponsor of this final bill We're also taking up Senators Portman and Shaheen Energy efficiency legislation. Today this bill advances energy efficiency technologies in the residential commercial industrial sectors of our economy and it's passed this Committee with a wide margin twice before I think we need to be very clear about what this bill does and what it does not do first and foremost Bill continues the long-standing policy of Congress to promote energy efficiencies to the Department of Energy It incentivizes energy efficiency by offering assistance to States and by developing Non-binding energy savings targets But there are and I repeat there are no mandates in this bill States are kept in the driver's seat on whether or not to adopt or update building energy codes, while States and home builders are offering help if they want it they aren't penalized if they don't I think this is the right balance that we struck look improve energy efficiency in building improved affordability for businesses and homeowners It protects American families and businesses from rising energy costs caused by instability overseas and moves us towards greater energy security Energy efficiency is just good policy and it's a low hanging fruit I'd also like to say a few About Sandra White House's Clean Industrial Technology Act this bill works with exports experts in industry academia the National Labs and elsewhere to develop and demonstrate low emitting, a technologies and several key sectors such as still making or chemical production Several West Virginia communities have long relied on manufacturing industrial processes to help build our economy and that of the entire country This bill engages those communities industries and workers to work together on solutions to lower Green Gas emissions while cornering the global market for new technologies as we craft an energy innovation package, this bill provides this bill These bills before us today will be an important compliment to the Nuclear Energy Leadership Act or the effect Act and others that we report over the summer I've said before we need to innovate not eliminate this Committee has lean forward in considering solutions and all the above way We all know that there's no silver bullet to solving climate change So it's important that we enable a broad spectrum of climate solutions I think we're continue the good work In that direction today so I wanna thank you Madam chairman for your leadership with all that alternate back to us so we can get started very good So as I noted the Committee meets today to report 20 items, there is one change to the short list that was circulated yesterday and that's agenda item number eight which is Senator Gardner's Bill seven S 1750 - eight relating to the Purgatory River Water Concert Conservancy District which is not gonna be considered at today's meeting as Senator Manchin has just reference some further information on reclamation project contracts. I am disappointed that we're not gonna be able to report it today but I do think we want to reiterate the commitment that is made here to move very quickly to get this measure ready for the committees next business meeting So we have seven members now present. We're gonna move to consideration of amendments. Adoption of any substitute amendments now will allow those bills to be available for possible amendments for our standard practice. There will still be an opportunity for members to either vote or be recorded as no on the final measure So we'll now move to accept Staff amendments which include the amendments filed individually by myself and Senator Manchin on block 210 of our agenda items. Those are amendments in the nature of substitutes for agenda items, number 5610 1213 and 16 amendments for agenda items 237 and nine a title amendment for agenda number six and a second degree amendment for agenda item 12 If there's no objections, the Committee will voice vote unblock the amendments I've just listed. Are there any objections hearing none all those Say I I all those opposed nay the ayes have it. The amendments are adopted will now move to the consideration of the amendment offered by Senator lead to agenda number 15 S 2137 the Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act of 2019, better known as Portman Shaheen Senator Lee's Amendment, strikes the building code provision in the measure and makes conforming technical changes And I understand that Senator Lee has asked for a roll call vote on his Amendment Senator Would you choose to make a statement Yes, please thank you Go ahead. Please thank you Madam chair. I I I don't support us 2137 Nevertheless I've offered an amendment to try to improve in a small way Removing a subtitle that would expand the role of the federal government in setting residential building codes Currently, the Department of Energy sits on the International Code Council or ICC which sets standards for building codes and provides inputs for what it believes energy saving building codes should be should look like the bill expands that Of Energy's function on the Council which would in all likelihood we can the voice of the States and localities and developing codes that makes sense for those communities for their respective communities. This is after all a local government function not a federal one We should never ask Maine to set energy efficiency targets for Arizona Similarly, we shouldn't ask Washington DC to set energy efficiency targets for Utah Oregon, West Virginia We should be empowering States and localities not continually expanding the centrality of the federal government Department of Energy in particular and there by risking risking the increasing cost of living for everyday American families Thank you Madam chair Chairman Senator Manchin I just wanna repeat you know what we're doing is giving an incentive if they desired There is no mandates in this whatsoever and you take the guts right out of this piece of legislation. If you don't give us an opportunity to really capture the Low-hanging fruit So I wasn't encouraged my good friend from Utah that we would defeat this amendment and move on to a piece of legislation which has been approved twice in this Committee I I certainly understand why Senator Lee has offered the amendment I think despite the efforts the best efforts in the continued efforts by many to try to to find a reasonable compromise we still have a view that is particularly problematic by some within the home builders and others within the building industry and as Senator Manchin has pointed out the provision Is is large voluntary but there's concerns out there and I think we've all heard it because we've all gotten the calls this weekend and and long before that that somehow or other. This is gonna enhance the Department of Energy's ability to move more prescriptive and and perhaps more more costly energy targets as part of a code development process I've heard from from my own home builders who are concerned that is gonna lead States to default to National voluntary codes rather than amending individual building codes to meet state Civic needs so there's a lot of discussion argument out there and as I mentioned in my opening comments, it's an area that is still problematic I think it needs further work and and that's what I have encouraged us to do but I am also going to oppose the amendment this morning to give everybody a little more time to work on this I don't want to see this efficiency package fail if the building code provision is stripped out I think this is something we can work through I think it is It's something that I want to Through and I'm gonna continue to encourage us to do that if fishing and and this energy efficiency measure that these two good senators have been working on for so many Congress is is so important to our energy discussions and we're gonna move a real energy bill through this Committee You have to have an energy efficiency piece in it If you don't you don't have good energy reform or updated efforts in it So I'm going to oppose The Lee Amendment although as I say I I understand absolutely where he's coming from. I wanna get us to a place where we can all embrace this and I'm looking forward to to that discussion Senator Hendrick I I just wanna make the point that I think senators Portman and Shaheen have been incredibly responsive to the wider home building community and there are many leading builders who who support this legislation I just wanna thank them. I know they've made at least 12 changes to this legislation and as Senator mansion said this is Entirely an incentive-based program so I I hope that all of our colleagues will reject this amendment and continue to work with the stakeholders to move forward on what is a critical piece of our energy policy I'll go ahead and really if I could just give a summation in response to some of those points, I understand that it's incentive What starts as an incentive becomes a mandate It becomes the norm and ends up squelching out the traditional role that States and localities have played in this area This is a concern we've seen this throughout the federal government. We've seen this in programs like Affirmatively furthering Fair housing where traditionally state and local government functions are gradually subsumed with Program that initially starts with a so-called incentive That's my concern Senator first let me just thank you and Senator Mansion for the great work here in getting this legislation to where it is today It's a lot of work and thank you so much for your persistence on continuing on all these I would just say that this Committee played a major role in the 2007 energy bill as it related to energy efficiency for automobiles and people could have had the same complaint Then what are we doing Detroit that they are to produce more energy efficient automobiles but guess what I'm pretty sure we're glad today that they did This bill represents an opportunity with the building industry and housing and building to try to move forward on what is 40 percent of our energy use and make it more efficient I just attended the opening of the largest cross laminated timber mill in Spokane Valley Washington on Friday Why Because it Is a more energy efficient material for building so I applaud my colleagues I would probably go further but at least you have a voluntary direction which is going to be what drives the sector in industry so we can either be a laggard in energy efficiency or we can be a leader in it and be competitive So I'm glad that we're gonna try to be competitive I'm glad we're gonna try to save consumers money just like we have with the auto sector and buildings are the next horizon. So thank you I encourage my colleagues to defeat the Lee Amendment and I think Senator Portman who is here and Senator Shaheen for their leadership and persistence on these issues okay looking forward to wrapping up the debate but let's go to Senator King I'll be very brief I understand Senator Lee's argument which is basically the slippery slope argument I think we need to focus on the legislation before us not legislation that may come before us in a year or two The slippery slope has to go through this body and these rules. These these these non this voluntary program is just that it's a voluntary If it's gonna become something else if it's gonna become a mandate it's gotta be an act of Congress It's gotta be amended by by this body so I think voting on against a good piece of legislation today because of something that might happen a year or two from now but which we have control over is I just think it would be unfortunate. I think it would largely got this important piece of legislation and just having some targets I think will be a good for the economy. Good for the for the home building industry and and good for the country So thank you I understand that Senator Lee has asked for a roll call vote on his amendment so seeing no further debate The question is on the Lee Amendment to agenda item number 15. The clerk will call the role Miss Murkowski Hi I know mister Brasso Hi mister Rich Yes my breakfast I buy proxy mister Lee Mister Dan's Mister Cassidy I buy Proxy Master Gardener Mississippi Miss McSally Alexander No by proxy Mister Haven Mister Mansion Mister Wade No by proxy just can't well Mister Sanders No by proxy Miss Stabenow No by proxy mister Hendrick Mister Romeo No by proxy Mister King and Mister Course Tasting Masto On this boat, the eyes are eight The nose are 12 The amendment is not agreed too Thank you so we have a reporting quorum of 11 members so we can report measures from Committee without Objection will now vote on 19 items on the short list on block as cleared by joint staff and as amended will also allow any member who wishes to be recorded no on any measure to be recorded as such Those are agenda items. Number one through seven number 19 through 14 and number 16 through 20 -. One are there any objections Center that Through 14 I'm sorry So it's agenda items. Number one through seven number nine through 14 and numbers 16 320 - one. Okay. Are there any objections? Hearing none all I'm sorry Which is agenda item number six agenda item 16 you will be duly noted as objecting lit Let's go ahead and and ask for the vote All those in favor indicate by saying I I all those opposed say no the ayes have it. The measures are ordered and reported Are there any members who wish to be recorded as no other than Senator McSally on item number 16 Madam Chair I'd like to be recorded as a no on the items identified I will I will provide it. It's very at the time I know I might be shorter. Did chairman Fred Center to Mansion Senator Herons and Senator Stabenow would like to be recorded as a no on S 607 They will be recorded as a no on such any further Madam chair I'd also like to be recorded as no one item number two which is 607 Thank you. The clerk will note Madam Cheryl supply a list and thank you Senator Brown Jenna item number 15 which is as 20 - 130 - seven. The Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act of 2019 will now move to the agenda item for which a roll call vote has been requested Senator Lee has requested a roll call vote the energy efficiency measures. the effort is there discussion on item number 15 seeing none The question is on agenda number 15 The clerk will call Mister Brasso mister Rich No by proxy mister Lee Mister Danes Mister Cassidy I buy Proxy Master Gardener Missus Smith Miss McSally mister Alexander I buy Proxy mister Hogan mister Mansion mister widen I brought miss Cantwell Mister Sanders Hi Proxy stamina I buy proxy mister Henry Mister Reno by Proxy Mister King Miss Cortez Masto On this vote, the ayes are 14. The nays are six The measure is agreed to I would ask for unanimous consent to direct the staff to make technical corrections to agenda item 15. That had been identified by the ledge Council's office to insert headings and Redesignate paragraphs in section 303 of the Energy Conservation and Production Act so that concludes our votes and our business this morning I'm gonna remain here for a few more minutes or as long as members wish to make statements about the bills we can also include any statements that members would wish to include as part of the record so are their senator We start with Senator Danes and then go to Senator Heinrich and alright, go back and forth Senator Daines Thank you. Chairman McCaskill and ranking member mansion for including two important Montana priorities in today's market clean and reliable drinking water is one of the most basic needs of life and yet many of our rural communities lack suitable access well water issues in major cities often time It's makes headline news. You rarely hear the struggle of our rural communities my legislation Rural Montana's won't be forgotten S 330 - Four The Clean Water for Rural Communities Act will ensure rural Montanans have access to a clean, reliable source of drinking water. S 1880. - Two will insert the Sydney Water Users Irrigation District in the Kenzie Irrigation Company continue to have access to pick Sloan Project used power They both have had access to project use power for more than 70 years and during Firms that passed this bill would have no negative impact on any other user of pick Sloan Power I wanna thank my colleagues for supporting this important piece of legislation and I look forward to getting him to the presence desk Thank you Chairman Murkowski Senator James. Thank you Senator Heinrich Madam Cherokee today is Senator before you go Senator Brasso ask that his statement be included as part of the record. So I just wanted to let them know that that would be as part of our record milk turned to you Thank you Madam chair today Includes several important energy bills that will help begin to move the needle on both energy efficiency and reducing carbon pollution as has been noted many of these had bipartisan support and I particularly want to commend both the chair and the ranking member and their staffs for all of their work today on S 1602 the Collins Hendrick Better Energy Storage Act or Best Act I'm particularly excited about the the focus on long duration storage within this legislation and I'm pleased that the amendment about the amendment that we adopted that includes new provisions related to both recycling and repurposing of batteries and new regulatory actions by fire to encourage deployment of energy storage. So I'm proud to join my colleagues in this effort to invest in reshaping our power industry and I certainly hope that the full Senate will consider this bill earlier this year later this year Thank you Senator Heinrich Senator Cantwell again thank you chair Murkowski and ranking member Mansion and again my congratulations Moving forward successfully on a trench of energy and water provisions in this legislation the fact that these bills were voted No mostly by voice vote I think it's a testament to your continued bipartisan consensus that is necessary to making investments in clean energy and storage and energy efficiency And I would like to address a couple of very important changing water needs in the West I'd like to briefly talk about several that are bills that are included today First, the grid modernization item number 17 authorizes new demonstrations to modernize the grid with storage micro grids distribution level, investment and technology. Like electric vehicle chargers and advanced distributed generation In addition, the bill requires the Energy Department to provide a series of off the shelf tools to local and state grid regulators to accelerate the adoption of new technology and grid controls While I believe this bill covers some of the important ground, I think we can do even more and I know that our Committee will continue to work on smarter grid and grid resiliency for the future I can just see it growing within my state and there are many businesses now that are Key players in this particular space and it's a great economic opportunity for our nation I also wanna mention agenda item 18, the Energy Cyber Security Act of 2019, which takes some critical steps on securing our electric grid as we've talked about in this Committee many times the greatest subject to over A million cider tacks every day In fact earlier this year as scary threshold was crossed when an unnamed Western utility became the first report a malicious cyber event that Disrupted grid operations This legislation creates several programs to identify enhance test chain vulnerabilities and response capabilities between DOE and other agencies like our National labs and private industry and the bill will work to secure energy networks bolster industry participation address cyber workforce and expand cooperation with the intelligence community is something that we hear from our colleagues quite often in other committees they are Generals and military leaders before the Armed Services Committee or the intelligence Committee demanding what are they going to do about cyber security when in reality So much of the focus is that DOE and on the grid So our Committee has a very important role to play in National security and thank you for including that legislation also agenda item 19. The energy workforce is something we heard a lot in the the Q E R report our nation's energy needs for the future and addressing the workforce Issue particularly for new buildings and clean energy systems is very important so we hope that developing an energy workforce in both traditional and clean energy sectors will help move our country forward on these developments in a new competitive workforce Grant program The idea is providing funding for States and local governments and industries and colleges who can boost job training at the Community College and registered apprentice programs to help create more of a workforce in this And finally I'd like to mention the pumped storage Hydro bill that is known as Bank Lakes in the state of Washington as a Committee heard at our hearing in June Currently pump storage Hydro accounts for about 90 - five percent of all utility scale energy storage in the United States and these facilities play a critical role in meeting peak demands. The bill will cover a unique permitting hurdle and allowed promising Bank legs Hydro electric pump storage to move forward this Two existing reservoirs near Grand Cooley Dam to provide the Pacific Northwest grid with a new source of carbon free capacity and critical ancillary services at this proposed size of 500 megawatts. This project could play a huge role in helping to integrate our state's growing supply of wind and solar So I again appreciate you and ranking member mansion for moving all of this legislation forward I hope that we can get the time in the Senate that Deserves again. Thank you Madam chair Thank you, Senator Cantwell You've been a part of so many of these different measures that that we're finally moving through I appreciate your leadership and your contribution on it as well Senator King and I'm chair just very briefly you handle this meeting today with your usual efficiency and dispatch but I don't wanna lose sight of the fact because it was so low key that this is a historic meeting. I believe I think some of the bills that we passed particularly with regard to energy storage and energy efficiency can make a real difference in the future Country and I just appreciate your leadership in bringing us to this point. Thank you Well, thank you Senator King. I appreciate you You raising that as I've kind of looked through the just the range of issues that we're covering in Senator Cantwell outlined some of them but you know you you you put em on your sticky sticky pad We focused on the workforce water issues Hydro pump storage efficiency cyber security, clean energy Marine energy storage solutions, state energy security the efficient Piece it is a big deal It is a big deal and as I look around the room once the vote I came in and went and it was clear that we were actually gonna be moving something the reporters leave that well actually the reporters are still there. Thank you But the room clears out and we move on to our next priority and we all know that on Capitol Hill today the focus is not on the energy Committee The focus is is on other issues that I can guarantee that you and I will go out and we will not be asked about tell us about this extraordinary hearing and markup that you had an energy where you moved out 20 bills that are going to make a difference for our energy security our energy future but no, we're not gonna be About that and it's unfortunate but I would just remind our colleagues sometimes sometimes virtue is its own reward Yeah it is you and I will you sleep better with it but I I I think we need to remember particularly at times when things get a little politically turbulent and choppy out there that our job here is to to continue the business of of of daily governance and legislating and address The issues that will make our our country stronger and our people better and healthier and when we're focusing on energy and and water and and and solutions to to our missions I I think we do a good day's work here so nothing nothing that we should shirk from here in this energy Committee So speaking to the record I thank you all for for your In getting us here and particularly to the staffs and Senator Cantwell noted it it it takes a lot of effort and I appreciate the leadership that I have with with Senator Mansion here as as the ranking member but the staffs put in extraordinary work on this and I I appreciate the effort that it takes to get bills to the point where it is an efficient process because we worked out all the bugs We don't have a lot of fights in here because we'll have our arguments earlier and work in And in a way that civil and efficient it's a good motto to have with that We stand adjourned and have a nice day