During debate on the House floor, Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK) spoke in support of HR 8997, the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2025.
Fuel your success with Forbes. Gain unlimited access to premium journalism, including breaking news, groundbreaking in-depth reported stories, daily digests and more. Plus, members get a front-row seat at members-only events with leading thinkers and doers, access to premium video that can help you get ahead, an ad-light experience, early access to select products including NFT drops and more:
https://account.forbes.com/membership/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=growth_non-sub_paid_subscribe_ytdescript
Stay Connected
Forbes on Facebook: http://fb.com/forbes
Forbes Video on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/forbes
Forbes Video on Instagram: http://instagram.com/forbes
More From Forbes: http://forbes.com
Fuel your success with Forbes. Gain unlimited access to premium journalism, including breaking news, groundbreaking in-depth reported stories, daily digests and more. Plus, members get a front-row seat at members-only events with leading thinkers and doers, access to premium video that can help you get ahead, an ad-light experience, early access to select products including NFT drops and more:
https://account.forbes.com/membership/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=growth_non-sub_paid_subscribe_ytdescript
Stay Connected
Forbes on Facebook: http://fb.com/forbes
Forbes Video on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/forbes
Forbes Video on Instagram: http://instagram.com/forbes
More From Forbes: http://forbes.com
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I yield to the distinguished chairman of the full committee,
00:04the gentleman from Oklahoma, Mr. Cole, for two minutes.
00:07Gentleman's recognized.
00:08Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, and I thank my good friend, the distinguished subcommittee
00:12chairman from Tennessee, for yielding. Today's measure provides funding for energy and water
00:17development initiatives for fiscal year 2025, which are crucial to the prosperity and security
00:22of our great nation. Rising geopolitical threats show that readiness can never be taken for
00:28granted. It's exactly why this legislation bolsters our nation's nuclear capabilities,
00:33particularly our nuclear deterrence posture. This bill includes significant funding to
00:37continue modernizing America's nuclear weapons stockpile and supports the operational nuclear
00:42naval fleet. It also directs resources to programs that prevent hostile nations and
00:47terrorist groups from acquiring nuclear devices, materials, and expertise. Today's bill also
00:53supports cutting-edge research and development functions, including an increase for the Office
00:58of Science and the Department of Energy and an increase in funding for nuclear energy
01:03innovation. I've long said that America must maintain an all-of-the-above energy policy
01:08in order to ensure our continued energy independence, and research and development efforts will help
01:13us uncover and utilize the energy sources of tomorrow. The Army Corps of Engineers,
01:18which conducts projects to maintain and improve American waterways, is robustly
01:23funded. From port improvements and harbor maintenance to flood control and hurricane
01:27protection, the Corps' work is critical to our nation's economic vitality. I thank Chairman
01:33Fleischman for his strategic approach in putting this bill together, and I urge all members to
01:37support it. With that, Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.