Foster, Obernolte Bipartisan Department of Energy Accountability Bill Passes House

Washington, DC – This week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the bipartisan Cost-Share Accountability Act, introduced by Reps. Bill Foster (D-IL) and Jay Obernolte (R-CA). This legislation would strengthen the Department of Energy's accountability to Congress and the public when awarding funding grants.

While many Department of Energy projects require cost-sharing by their grant recipients, these requirements can be reduced or even eliminated in certain instances. This legislation would increase accountability by requiring the department to make public and submit to Congress quarterly reports on the use of its authority to modify or bypass the statutory cost-sharing requirement.

“For Congress to fulfill our oversight responsibilities, we must be able to access information on how our departments and agencies are operating,” said Foster. “Cost-sharing requirements help protect the use of federal funds at the Department of Energy. As the department continues their next-generation research and development, it's critical Congress understands how cost-sharing is implemented in support of their projects.”

“The federal government has a responsibility to be a good steward of taxpayer dollars,” said Obernolte. “The Cost-Share Accountability Act ensures greater transparency in how the Department of Energy administers cost-sharing requirements, helping Congress and the public hold our institutions accountable. I’m proud to see this commonsense, bipartisan measure pass the House.”

A copy of the legislation can be found here.

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