Welcome you to your first hearing following your bipartisan conservation in the senate. It took us a little bit longer than we had hoped to get you in this role and we are happy to have you at the helm. We look forward to getting you helping you get a full complement of folks at the department as well. The budget request for the department of energy takes a different approach than weve seen. The president has made a concerted effort to increase funding for the nuclear. This is a portion of the department that falls outside of our community here. The administration has requested robust cleaning of Nuclear Waste. To offset those funding increases the proposed deep cuts to research and development for energy and science. It proposes to phase out innovative programs that have had demonstrated success. I understand what drop the proposal, but i am concerned by certain parts of it. The United States is the worlds leader in science and energy. We like it that way, and we want to keep it that way. At the core of that excellence is the work done in our International Labs and universities. Members on both sides of the Community Want to maintain that leadership. We need to be careful that we do not get in the way of good work for the proper role of the private sector. Keeping that in mind, many of us have found good opportunities where it makes sense to increase funding for r d. I appreciate the need to derive savings and balance the budget. Not at the expense of energy innovation. Good science should not sit on a shelf. The department to continue to pursue limits of science to ensure the next generation of Energy Technology is developed here in this country. Although i do not support all of the proposals, i believe do we we do have areas of agreement. I believe it will take performs to save taxpayer dollars. Our work on the loan is a good example of how that can work. Michael is to drive down the costs of commercial to make energy more affordable, reliable, clean, diverse and secure. It is important for alaska were energy costs are orders of magnitude. The secretary, thank you for being here. I hope to be able to host you up in the state soon. I know you have made similar commitments. I look forward to hearing your priorities outlined before the committee this morning. Thank you, madam chair. Welcome back, mr. Secretary. The department of energy is a Global Leader in science and technology with an unrivaled network of National Laboratories. The president s budget will many of the does essential program senate would devastate emerging Clean Energy Jobs in our economy. It would kill science and innovation in the jobs the doe supports. The budget would raise electricity rates in the Pacific Northwest and a number of people will not be supportive of that. The budget would undermine u. S. Energy leadership and that is post to grow millions of jobs around the world. According to the International Energy agency more than 30 trillion will be invested in new facilities between now and 2040. We have heard a lot about the energy from this incident administration. I would like to hear less about exporting commodities that even nations like china are having major blowback on. And focus more on how we are going to focus on winning the opportunity and Energy Efficiency advanced technology and thinks that consumers and businesses around the world are pledging commitment to. This community recently shows the cost of clean Energy Technology has dropped between 41 and 94 since 2008. I was very proud to join the chair where we saw Energy Efficiency helping businesses save dollars and also micro grids in alaska are looking for every advancement they can get in driving down the costs of energy. The Success Stories have been built on decades of investment by the department of energy. This is something that most have supported. President trumps budget is a break in that bipartisan tradition. It attempts to turn back the clock at the expense of the future. During her confirmation hearing, you committed to protecting science and the men and women who conduct that science. I have concern about what i think is the effect of thousands of people. Specifically this budget proposes to eliminate rge with high potential High Impact Technology that are too early for the private sector to take on our advanced, critically important to our nation. Eliminate the weatherization and save the Energy Program which provides critical assistance to 50 states to help them. The applied Energy Research program 73 s 73 i guarantee that is something everybody across the board here cares about. A 17 cut from the office of science. This week you question the certainty of Science BehindClimate Change. During her confirmation hearing you said im going to protect all of science whether it is related to climate or whatever aspects were going to be doing mr. Secretary, with all due respect, i want to make sure that you and your office has all the information you need on science. Your Budget Proposal slashes Research Within the office of science, the office that supports Climate Research by 43 . Another troubling area is the doe on Energy Infrastructure. Grid and network are under cyber attack from 2012 to 2016 the number of reported incidents against infrastructure or than doubled. According to the washington post, russian government hackers are targeting u. S. Energy and utility systems. This threat to our grid is clearly growing. This morning i along with 18 of my colleagues are sending a letter to the president reiterating that the doe should address the growing threat on our critical infrastructure. During your confirmation hearing you assured me and the committee that Cyber Security would be one of your top priorities. Your budget slashes that budget by 30 . I want to see a larger investment in this critical area to our infrastructure. I would like to mention, i know my colleagues from washington talk to you about hanford funding yesterday. I am incredibly disappointed to see the approach to the cleanup. In light of the recent followed by workers at the plutonium finishing plan and the operations budget being cut demonstrates a disregard for the health and safety of the individuals working in our state. The Trump Administration needs to understand if we do not prioritize the funding and the potential for safety and security, we are going to have issues and serious problems. These recent incidents are a wakeup call. That is why i am working to ensure the resources there for the public. I know we all have a of all the ideas the people of come up with in the past. We have secretary we consider the ways that the plant. The Clinton Administration plan the privatization authorization of this plant. We saw secretary abramson tried to secretary [indiscernible audio cutting out] all i am saying is every Energy Secretary was pressured more by some person who knows nothing about science trying to do cleanup and i guarantee you, it can be done. We have to remain resolute and committed to cleaning this up. I look forward to asking more about that. I know many of my colleagues throughout the Pacific Northwest on this committee and on the Appropriations Committee will have a lot to say about our priorities for hanford. Secretary terry, its good to have you before the committee. She is the acting chief Financial Officer for the doe. I understand you will not be providing testimony this morning. Thank you for being here with the secretary. In fact, if you would like to begin your remarks so that we can turn to questions thank you. It is a privilege to be in front of you and the committee again. It is my privilege to be here and an honor to discuss President Trumps fiscal year 2018 budget request. As each of you know, it is a great privilege to serve as the 14th secretary of energy. Is a former legislator, i might add an appropriate her as well. And the governor. I am very respectful of the budget writing process. I know the importance of the work that you have undertaken and i look forward to working with you to finalize the budget that we can all be proud of and that serves taxpayers of this country as well. In my 3. 5 months as secretary of energy i have seen firsthand the impact of the Department Leadership both domestically and internationally. I have traveled around the country. I have been in some of your states. I intend to get to hanford asap, most likely this summer to look at that. To talk to the men and women working there and visit with those brilliant individuals that are on site. I happen to take a lot of faith and knowledge of whats needed and how to address these issues that are driving their mission. I look forward to being in a lot of your states over the course of the next month. These labs truly are is you have all noted, either today or in previous conversations, our national treasures. They are the future of innovation in this country. The diverse scope of the departments mission and the consequential work that we are charged with undertaking. I have also traveled overseas representing the United States at the meeting in rome. And then the beijing for the Clean Energy Mission ministerial. I have had the opportunity to visit japan and meet with leaders and stakeholders about the future of the Energy Partnership with the u. S. And japan and on a somber note, i toward the site of the disaster and saw firsthand the absolute Monumental Task they have before them. My trip to asia began on the day the President Trump announced that we would officially withdraw the United States from the paris agreement. I delivered his message to the world. Even though the u. S. Would not only no longer be a part of the paris agreement, we are still the leader in clean Energy Technology and we are committed to that mission. The department of energy does many things well. America has remained on the forefront of technology for over 40 years because of the amazing men and women at these labs. They wake up every day knowing that they will make a real difference in the world. And i told them, the first time i met with them, the greatest job i ever had was being the governor of texas. After working here, i have come to realize that the secretary of energy is officially the coolest job ive ever had. Under my leadership, are experts at deal we will continue their work for the benefit of every american and our allies alike. I am also a member of the National Security council which is supported by doe in the mission to keep our nation safe. Resident trumps budget request for the budget of Energy Provides 28 million to advance our and focuses on important investments including ensuring the safety and effectiveness of our Nuclear Weapons arsenal. Protecting our Energy Infrastructure and achieving computing and focusing the amazing networks of her National Laboratories on Early Stage Research and development. My goals are straightforward. Advance our nations critical r d missions, strengthen our security, fulfill our environmental management. Ive just painted you a rather rosy picture. And while there is a lot of good news to report, there are other hard conversations we need to have. As you are well aware. There are approximately 120 sites and 39 states that are storing highlevel waste. Many members of this committee have waste in their state. We have a moral and a National Security obligation to come up with a longterm solution to finding the safest repositories available. This is a sensitive topic for some. We no longer can continue to kick the can down the road. As a former legislative appropriate or an agency head and governor, i understand how important falling following the rule of law is. I have been instructed to move forward towards that goal. The. The president s budget request 120 million to resume licensing and to initiate a robust interim storage program. We also need to be good stewards of the taxpayers dollars. Congress has spent 5 billion congress has spent 5 billion on the project this way over budget with no end in sight. The army corps of engineers has made a cost of 17. 2 the army corps of engineers has made a cost of 17. 2 billion and a 2048 completion date. This is money that can be used towards other power like National Security or cleanup at other sites. There is a better, cheaper and proven way to dispose of plutonium. In fact, we are using that process now. I look forward to having a non door ongoing dialogue with you in the months to come. This Budget Proposal makes a difficult choice but it is para might does paramount. The president s proposed priorities dealing with the core mission of the department by consolidating within our agency is in order. It does respect our taxpayers. He deserves credit for beginning this discussion about how to most wisely spend our scarce federal dollars. As for me, this is not my first rodeo. Having been the governor of texas for 14 years, i managed under tight budgets. It wasnt always blue skies and smooth sailing. We have some substantial budget shortfalls during that period of time that i was governor. And we were able to budget successfully. We faced limited resources that time. Texas became a shining example of educational growth. I will manage the same way with the department of energy. And we did that in my home state by working together. That is one of the things that i want to bring forward today. It is my intention. I understand this is the first step. I am committed to working with you, each of you in the ways that you direct. I understand this process. I respected. Set clear goals and manage the best and brightest to achieve those goals. Spending scarce resources wisely. With your help i believe we can attain many positive outcomes. We want to see the department of energy is capable of delivering up a half of the American People. So thank you again, madam chairman, and i look forward to answer your questions thank you, mr. Secretary. I appreciate your enthusiasm. Im sure that will help you get through every day. Some days are easier than others and we all know that around that. Let me start my questioning because im a big fan of rpe. When you think about a department and the cool things you get to do, one of the cool things is to help facilitate some of these great and fabulous ideas the change the country and change the world. As we all know, cool ideas the start of somebodys garage dont always end up making it through. We talk a lot around this committee about the valley of death. Good things happen, but they just cant make it through that point of commercialization. When i think of how head has helped to be that bridge, its investments have reportedly spurred nearly 2 billion and follow ones. This is the type of thing that we should be doing. The question to you this morning to start things off, do you support the mission of rpe and if so, if we eliminated, where are we . Where does that put the department of energy . That space we should be occupying. Really revolutionize and change the world here. Senator, you asked the perfect question. From my perspective, the result of being able to deliver the next big thing, if you well. When you think about the department of energy and other agencies that are not only does not directly darpa, the department of energy, as you shared, extraordinary stories that come out of the department of energy. It was created about one decade ago. It was funded for the first time in 2009. Again, as i said, i understand this budgetary process. Im going to follow your lead. I know how the money is appropriated. We want the department of energy to be really focused on pushing these new ideas out and getting them to commercialization. I am credibly supportive of that. Do you think that is the role of the department quick i do. I think there is a real role to play on getting basic research funded, gap funding to get that to the point where you can commercialize it. We are going to argue about is that this much for this smart or what have you. I dont think we will have an argument, when you look at my history, as the governor of texas, we help create an Emergency Technology fund in that state that commercialize technology that would have died if the gap funding [indiscernible]. I understand and support that. Senator, were going to have a discussion and a debate about what is the proper structure. Is it the darpa structure . If that is what congress decides, i will salute and go get that done. Do you think it has not worked in recent years . I think its worth having a conversation about. Having a good open discussion about is this the proper structure . Is this the right way to deliver the results . And ive got a pretty good background of 14 years of managing a pretty big entity. What i would ask each of you in a personal and professional way, i hope you will trust me, if you will to manage this agency and to deliver the results that you want. Is it absolutely in the structure that we have today . I can tell you yes or no.