WASHINGTON— Today, bipartisan legislation sponsored by Congressmen Markwayne Mullin (OK-02) and Tom O’Halleran (AZ-01) unanimously passed the Energy and Commerce Committee during a full committee markup. H.R. 5541, the Tribal Power Act, will ensure tribal governments can access the federal resources and assistance they need to advance their energy development initiatives.
Below are Mullin’s remarks as prepared for delivery:
Thank you, Chairman Pallone and Ranking Member Walden.
I am pleased to see H.R. 5541, the Tribal Power Act included in today’s markup. Too often, Indian Country gets left behind in energy development.
The Tribal Power Act will reauthorize the Department of Energy’s Indian Energy Education Planning and Management Assistance Program. This bill will get Tribes the strategic help and capital they need to become energy efficient and enhance their energy infrastructure.
From 2010 to 2017, this program invested more than $62.5 million in nearly 160 tribal energy projects.
I have long been a supporter of the economic benefits American energy brings to our communities.
As sovereign nations, Tribes should have the ability to choose and deploy the kind of energy that best works for them.
This program helps with that and I am proud to co-lead the Tribal Power Act with my colleague from Arizona, Mr. O’Halleran.