Date: 2015-12-02
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

I just want to take a moment. Mr. Chairman. as we have been debating important energy issues on the floor of the House. to offer my deepest sympathy to the families who have lost loved ones in San Bernardino and hope that we will come together as a country and find solutions to this terrible tragedy. Mr. Chairman. I thank you for giving me the opportunity to introduce this amendment because it talks about the goodness of this Nation and the wonderment of our youth. My amendment particularly is called the Youth Energy Enterprise Competition. It asks the Secretaries of Energy and Commerce to jointly establish an energy enterprise competition to encourage youth to propose solutions to the energy challenges of the United States and to promote youth interests and careers in science. technology. engineering. and math. especially those fields that relate to energy. As a member of the United States Congress. I have had the privilege of being on the Congressional Award Board that provides medals to young people across the country for their public service. for their volunteerism. I can see when they come to Washington the excitement and the future of this Nation. I truly believe that the future of this Nation is in energy independence. Economic growth. national security. expanding opportunities. and diversifying the energy sector workforce are critical issues we must invest our time and talent in. Across America. colleges. community colleges. high schools. and middle schools are talking about science. technology. engineering. and math. We are trying to introduce our children to the wonders of science. technology. engineering. and math. I do it by introducing my young people to NASA. NASA Johnson. inviting them down to the space center and watching their eyes open in amazement. or my annual Toys for the Kids effort. a big Christmas party. and the most popular entity is the astronaut and the space exhibit. So I know it is in our children. My amendment is consistent with the administrations commitment to promoting our national economic and homeland security interests and empowering our youth. It asks the Secretaries of the Energy and Commerce Departments to develop a challenge so that our young people can compete with their ideas about the energy challenges of America. It is a good approach to getting ideas to those of us who are policymakers or maybe even to the world of the energy industry. from those in Silicon Valleyand when I say that. dealing with high techto the hardnosed energy in our Midwest. and certainly down to Houston. Texas. where we are dealing with LNG. natural gas. and oil and looking for new ways to produce that product in a safe and environmentally secure way. I think this competition will bring forth new ideas. excited young people. maybe starting from elementary or middle school. certainly working with young people in high school and rewarding them for their talent. Mr. Chairman. this is a number of pictures from my district. One exhibits a community garden but really is teaching young people about soil and the idea of how you raise trees and dealing with the science of farming. Then you have them also dealing with a drone. knowing the technology of that and using it in a good way. I have faith in Americas youth. and I believe that this amendment will help us bring to the forefront their talent and bright new ideas to make this Nation the kind of strong and powerful nation that we know it is but. more importantly. using the genius of our youth to face the 21st century energy challenges. I ask my colleagues to support my amendment. Mr. Chair. I have an amendment at the desk. It is listed in the Committee Report as Jackson Lee #35. Let me express my appreciation to Chairman UPTON and Ranking Member PALLONE for their leadership and commitment to American energy infrastructure development. security. independence and economic growth. I also wish to thank Chairman SESSIONS. Ranking Member SLAUGHTER. and the members of the Rules Committee for making in order Jackson Lee Amendment #35. Mr. Chair. thank you for the opportunity to explain my amendment. which provides: