Solomon Ortiz, Jr.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                     Contact: Chito Vela
March 24, 2010                                                                    (512) 463-0484

HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE APPOINTS SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIR
Representative Solomon Ortiz, Jr. Chosen to Chair Energy Subcommittee

(Austin) - As part of the work of the House Select Committee on Federal Economic Stabilization Funding, Chairman Jim Dunnam (Chilton) announced today the appointment of an Energy Subcommittee to be chaired by Representative Solomon Ortiz, Jr. (Corpus Christi) and include among its members Representative Jim Pitts (Waxahachie) and Representative Craig Eiland (Galveston). The subcommittee will study all matters related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds allocated for energy projects.

Texas plays a critical role in America's domestic energy production, as it is the largest refiner of petroleum in the U.S and produces more than three times as much natural gas as any other state. Additionally, Texas is the top producer of renewable energy in the nation and has the second largest number of alternative fuel vehicles. The Department of Energy has awarded $1,311,699,940 to Texas under the ARRA as of March 5, 2010. The Subcommittee will monitor the use and effectiveness of these funds, adherence to state and federal reporting requirements and any possible increases in funding from ARRA. Included within the subcommittee's jurisdiction are issues related to the Weatherization Assistance Program, Smart Grid Investment grants, Clean Cities grant programs, the Conservation Block Grant Program and Biorefinery programs.

"With refineries, wind farms, and the potential for investments in solar and geothermal facilities, energy is a major part of Corpus Christi's economy," said Rep. Ortiz. "I look forward to reviewing the energy-related awards that Texas received from ARRA, analyzing their effectiveness and exploring the possibility of additional funding."

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) was signed into law by President Obama on February 17th, 2009. ARRA was a direct response to the federal economic crisis. Gov. Rick Perry applied for the majority of those funds in the spring of 2009, and overall Texas is expected to receive over $16 billion in Stimulus dollars through 2011. The House Select Committee on Federal Economic Stabilization Funding was created by House Speaker Joe Straus immediately after the President signed ARRA into law to provide transparency and accountability for the funds flowing into Texas under the Act. Representative Ortiz has served on the Committee since that time.

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