House GOP Members Advocate for Curbing Clean Energy Reductions in Legislation They Previously endorsed in the Senate
Ditching Regrets, House Republicans Plead for Leniency on Clean Energy Cuts
WASHINGTON - A dozen House Republicans, who previously voted for Trump's pet project, the "big, beautiful bill," penned a letter on Friday urging Senate GOP leaders to mellow down on some of the clean energy cuts, sparking a wave of resentment from conservative purists.
The surprising criticism of their own bill hints at a sliver of remorse among the GOP lawmakers, whose votes played a crucial role in pushing the bill through the House by a hair's breadth last month.
"While we take pride in crafting a bill that steered clear of a complete repeal of clean energy tax credits, we remain highly troubled by certain provisions," the Republicans stated in the letter, spearheaded by Rep. Jen Kiggans, R-Va.
They drew attention to sections that abruptly cut off funding for projects yet to break ground within just 60 days of the bill's implementation and restrict transferability.
"This headstrong approach threatens ongoing development, discourages long-term investment, and may significantly delay or cancel energy infrastructure projects across the nation," the group of House Republicans expressed, critiquing the legislation they supported, while proposing changes to mitigate the potential harm.
Kiggans, much like the majority of the signatories, represents a contested district that Democrats have snared in their sights for the 2026 elections. Alongside her, other politically vulnerable members include: Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa.; Juan Ciscomani, R-Ariz.; Mike Lawler, R-N.Y.; Don Bacon, R-Neb.; Gabe Evans, R-Colo.; Young Kim, R-Calif.; David Valadao, R-Calif.; Rob Bresnahan, R-Pa.; and Tom Kean, R-N.J.
The remaining three, occupying comparatively safe seats, are Reps. Mark Amodei, R-Nev.; Andrew Garbarino, R-N.Y.; and Nick LaLota, R-N.Y.
The 13 Republicans asserted that "the House-passed bill includes a phase-out schedule for credits that could cause significant upheaval for projects under development and obstruct investments required to win the energy race on a global scale."
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee poked fun at the letter and declared the lawmakers will carry the blame for their votes on the bill.
"These 13 Republicans vowed not to support cuts to clean energy tax credits, then cast the decisive votes to inflate energy prices for regular folk, axe tens of thousands of jobs, and undercut our nation's energy independence. They bear responsibility for this Big, Ugly Bill and all the damage it will cause," DCCC spokesperson Viet Shelton said. "This thinly-veiled ploy is the worst sort of political hypocrisy, and voters will recognize it for what it is—a dishonest move by endangered House Republicans who bent to the will of their Washington overlords at the expense of the American people."
Kiggans' office didn't immediately reply to a request for comment on whether she was aware of the provisions prior to her endorsement of the bill or whether she'd support a bill falling short of her new demands.
Sources:
- GOP aims to ease some energy cuts in Inflation Reduction Act
- Republicans Urge Senate GOP To Preserve Clean Energy Provisions in Inflation Reduction Act
- The House Republicans' letter criticizes certain provisions that may delay or cancel energy infrastructure projects due to inflation, as they abruptly cut off funding for projects yet to be initiated and restrict transferability.
- The group of 13 House Republicans, including Representatives Jen Kiggans and Brian Fitzpatrick, concerns the potential harm caused by a phase-out schedule for credits in the bill they supported, as it could undercut environmental-science projects and impede long-term investment in science-based climate-change solutions.
- The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee accuses the 13 Republicans of political hypocrisy, as they voted for a bill that will increase energy prices, eliminate jobs, and harm the nation's energy independence.
- Amidst general-news reports, it remains unclear whether Republican Representative Jen Kiggans was aware of the problematic provisions in the clean energy bill before endorsing it, and whether she would support a revised bill aligning with her new demands regarding credit funding and transferability.
