{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://vanepps.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-van-epps-introduces-amendment-to-support-energy-dominance-at-space-science-and-technology-committee-markup", "Rep. Van Epps Introduces Amendment to Support Energy Dominance at Space, Science, and Technology Committee Markup", "2026-05-20", "2026", "2026-05", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Matt Van Epps", "V000139", "vanepps.house.gov", "vanepps", "https://vanepps.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. - Today, Rep. Van Epps (TN-07) introduced an amendment in a Science, Space, and Technology full Committee markup. His proposal amends the Next-Generation Geothermal Research and Development Act by prioritizing geothermal projects that intend to power high load factor facilities when the Secretary of Energy is considering grant awards.\n\nWatch the Congressman\u2019s remarks here or read them below.\n\n\u201cHouse Republicans have worked hard during this Congress to deliver on the President\u2019s agenda to unleash American energy by removing regulatory barriers, streamlining licenses and permits for energy projects, and detaching from foreign dependence.\n\nI rise in strong support of Congressman Harrigan\u2019s bill to accelerate the commercialization of cutting-edge geothermal projects to meet America\u2019s energy needs.\n\nCongressman Harrigan has championed numerous [pieces of] legislation across nuclear, natural gas, and now geothermal energy, helping to secure America\u2019s leadership in energy dominance.\n\nIn directing the Energy Secretary to issue grants for innovative geothermal projects, this bill directs federal spending toward public-private partnerships that address America\u2019s ever-growing energy demands.\n\nMr. Chairman, I offer an amendment for purposes of discussion. My amendment directs the Secretary\u2019s grant prioritization to consider commercial geothermal projects that would power high-load-factor facilities.\n\nHigh-load-factor facilities, such as semiconductor fabrication plants, steel mills, and wastewater treatment facilities, all need consistent baseload power to sustain operations.\n\nRising energy demands are also hitting close to home in Tennessee's 7th district\u2013\u2013home to a Google datacenter, a new critical minerals smelter, and Fort Campbell.\n\nAs investment in these large facilities grows in my district, and across the country, it is essential that taxpayer dollars are supporting renewable projects that are directed toward meeting a substantive need\u2013\u2013which is what my amendment seeks to advance.\u201d", 1, "2026-06-06T06:16:30Z", "2026-06-06T06:17:47Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://vanepps.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-van-epps-introduces-amendment-to-support-energy-dominance-at-space-science-and-technology-committee-markup"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.8799312636256218, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}