Fleming’s Carbon Capture Flip-Flop
Records show John Fleming repeatedly voted to fund carbon capture programs in Congress before now claiming he wants to stop them.
Did you know that from 2011 through 2015, Congressman John Fleming voted multiple times for legislation that funded and directed the implementation and expansion of federal carbon capture and storage (CCS) programs nationwide?
Here’s the proof:
- In 2011, Fleming voted YES on the House version of the FY2012 Energy and Water Development Appropriations bill (H.R. 2354), which included approximately $184 million for carbon capture and storage programs.
- In 2012, he voted YES on another Energy and Water appropriations bill (H.R. 5325) that included approximately $184 million for carbon capture and storage programs.
- In 2013, the House passed the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act (H.R. 2609), which funded the Department of Energy’s Research and Development program on carbon capture and storage. Fleming voted YES on final passage.
- In 2014, John Fleming once again voted YES on H.R. 3547 to spend more than $200 Million for Carbon Capture Programs.
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- $92 million was appropriated for carbon capture research
- $108.9 million was appropriated for carbon storage programs
John Fleming’s YES on CCS vote represented a $25.4 million increase in Carbon Capture and Storage spending over the previous year’s funding levels.
- Later in 2014, Fleming also voted YES on the House version of the FY2015 Energy and Water Development Appropriations bill (H.R. 4923), which included approximately $190 million for carbon capture and storage programs.
- Fleming Had an Opportunity to Change the Bill
- During House consideration of the Energy and Water appropriations bill, Fleming offered his own amendment. The Fleming amendment (H.Amdt.303) was adopted by a recorded vote. However, the amendment did not remove or restrict the carbon capture funding contained in the bill.
- Fleming Had an Opportunity to Change the Bill
- In 2015, Fleming once again voted YES on CCS in support of the North American Energy Security and Infrastructure Act (H.R. 8). The legislation included an entire section 1109, which directed the Department of Energy to oversee federal carbon capture projects and provide direction and funding recommendations to support the continued progress of CCS technologies in the United States.
Bottom Line:
John Fleming has repeatedly voted YES on CCS
- Fleming voted for legislation multiple times, allocating hundreds of millions of dollars for carbon capture sequestration programs
- Fleming had an opportunity to modify one of the many appropriations bills he voted for, but did not remove the funding
- Fleming then backed up his support by once again voting YES for the North American Energy Security and Infrastructure (H.R. 8)
Sources
- House Roll Call Vote No. 345, H.R. 2609 — Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2014, July 10, 2013.
- House Roll Call Vote No. 21, H.R. 3547 — Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2014, January 15, 2014.
- Energy and Water Development: FY2014 Appropriations, Congressional Research Service, Feb. 25, 2014 (R43121).
- House Appropriations Committee, Energy and Water Development Appropriations Bill, 2014, H. Rept. 113-135.
- H.Amdt. 303 to H.R. 2609, Amendment offered by Rep. John Fleming, July 10, 2013.
- North American Energy Security and Infrastructure Act of 2015 (H.R. 8) , Section 1109 — Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Sequestration Projects.
- House Roll Call Vote No. 672, H.R. 8 — North American Energy Security and Infrastructure Act, December 3, 2015.
- House Roll Call Vote No. 600, H.R. 2354 — Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2012, July 15, 2011.
- House Roll Call Vote No. 342, H.R. 5325 — Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2013, June 6, 2012.