Shaheen-McSally Bill Promoting Jobs in Energy Workforce Clears Key Committee Hurdle
**Legislation introduced by Shaheen to fully fund LWCF also advances through committee markup**
(Washington, DC) – Today, U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Martha McSally’s (R-AZ) bipartisan bill, the Promoting American Energy Jobs Act, passed the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. The Senators’ bipartisan legislation would require the Department of Energy (DOE) to publish an annual energy and employment report to measure energy jobs in the United States, and examine energy production and distribution sectors of the economy.
The United States’ energy sector is a major economic driver; however, the DOE doesn’t currently measure job creation in this industry. Shaheen and McSally’s bill would require the federal government to more accurately account for energy jobs, such as those associated with clean energy technologies – like wind, solar and energy storage – while also counting those in various professions tied to energy efficiency. These reports will improve our understanding of the employment makeup of the energy industry, which is critical to making informed policy and business decisions that will address workforce challenges and assist in the development and deployment of energy resources.
In addition, bipartisan legislation introduced by Shaheen to fully fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) to its maximum authorization level of $900 million, the Land and Water Conservation Fund Permanent Funding Act, advanced through today’s markup. LWCF has only been fully funded twice since its establishment in 1965.
“I’m glad these two pieces of legislation moved forward, demonstrating there is a willingness in the Senate to find bipartisan, common-sense efforts that invest in both our environment and economy. By ensuring the Land and Water Conservation Fund has the resources it needs to protect our treasured lands, and enhancing our understanding of the energy sector to promote the growth of clean energy jobs, we can be responsible stewards of our environment and prioritize smart policy to boost our recreational tourism sector,” said Shaheen. “I’ll continue to work across the aisle to deliver these bills to the President’s desk.”
“It is critical that we have a holistic approach to our nation’s energy strategy,” said McSally. “That means taking into account how many Americans are employed by the energy industry in different sectors. It is great to see our bill pass out of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee today with strong bipartisan support so that we can have all of the information necessary to make decisions regarding energy policy.”
Shaheen is a champion of efforts that invest in sustainability and promote energy efficiency. In September, Senator Shaheen testified before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy in support of her bipartisan effort with Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) – the Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act (ESIC), which cleared the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee last month. The Shaheen-Portman bill would improve energy efficiency in three key sectors – buildings, manufacturing and the federal government. The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources has also recently passed a number of Shaheen’s bipartisan energy efficiency legislative priorities, including her bill with Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN) to promote innovation, energy efficiency and economic competitiveness of American manufacturers.
During her time in the Senate, Shaheen has also been a strong advocate for the LWCF, both to permanently authorize it and fully fund it. The LWCF has helped protect more than 2.5 million acres of land and supported tens of thousands of state and local outdoor recreation projects throughout the nation. Shaheen’s bipartisan bill was included in legislation that was signed into law earlier this year that permanently reauthorized the LWCF.
