NotedDC — Dems warn NDAA measure could stifle climate goals
Some House Democrats are warning the Senate and White House that an amendment added to the $840 billion defense authorization bill would stifle the party’s renewable energy goals.
FIRST IN THE HILL: Rep. Jake Auchincloss (D-Mass.) told NotedDC he will vote against the bill Thursday night because of an amendment that would ban offshore wind developers from using construction boats with multinational crews.
The amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) would require that these boats — necessary to construct wind turbines — be staffed by Americans or citizens of the boat’s origin country.
Proponents of the amendment argue that foreign-owned boats with lower paid workers are taking away jobs from Americans. But opponents maintain the U.S. doesn’t have enough of those specialized boats or workforce in the first place.
Auchincloss, a Marine veteran, is sending a letter with 30 other House Democrats to the Senate Commerce Committee requesting it remove the amendment.
“By prohibiting the use of these [vessels] in the short term, we sacrifice all of the jobs that would have existed during the lifetime of these projects, including for maintenance and operations,” Auchincloss wrote in the letter provided first to The Hill.
Some others who signed on: Democratic Reps. Hakeem Jeffries (N.Y.), David Cicilline (R.I.), Sean Casten (Ill.), Ayanna Pressly (Mass.) and David Trone (Md.).
“If Senator Cantwell and the White House are serious about clean energy, this language should change,” a Democratic aide said, referring to Senate Commerce Committee chair Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.). “The ball’s now in their court.”
The Supreme Court’s ruling last month to limit the powers of the Environmental Protection Agency already stymies the Biden administration’s efforts to combat climate change, and Democrats have raised alarms about their agenda lagging.
Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) said he would work with the Senate to ensure that the amendment would not “impede” offshore wind projects.
Welcome to NotedDC: Your guide to politics, policy & people of consequence in D.C.
In today’s issue: We’ll explore other elements of the mammoth defense policy bill, and former President Trump‘s latest tease about 2024.
Plus: Material from the Jan. 6 House select committee that has yet to be released.
—
WHAT’S IN THE NDAA?
The bill, which reliably passes every year to direct the Pentagon’s funding, is playing a more significant role this year in shaping how the U.S. military interacts in NATO, given the war in Ukraine.
The House funded the bill with $37 billion more than President Biden initially requested, citing the need for more aircraft, ships and assistance to Ukraine. Lawmakers proposed an eye-popping 1,200 amendments, voting on 650 of them.
Some notable amendments:
- One from Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Ill.) that “compels government officials to prepare a report on instances of white supremacy and neo-Nazi activity in uniformed services and federal law enforcement.”
- One from Reps. Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.) and Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) that would establish a secure system for reporting on UFOs, improving Congress’ ability to learn more about them.
- One from Reps. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) and Anthony Brown (D-Md.) and D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D) that would give the mayor of D.C. authority over the city’s national guard rather than the federal government.
Source:
Kelsey Carolan & Elizabeth Crisp