President Donald Trump’s 2018 budget request will allow the Department of Energy to carry out its core functions while being “respectful” to the US taxpayer, according to Rick Perry.
The US Secretary of Energy made the comments after the commander in chief unveiled his spending proposal, grandly titled “A New Foundation For American Greatness”.
In the document, Trump vowed to roll back “burdensome” Federal regulations for American consumers and businesses big and small.
On energy spending, he added: “We must increase development of America’s energy resources, strengthening our national security, lowering the price of electricity and transportation fuels, and driving down the cost of consumer goods so that every American individual and business has more money to save and invest.
“A consistent, long-term supply of lower-cost American energy brings with it a much larger economy, more jobs, and greater security for the American people.”
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In response Perry said: “This budget delivers on the promise to reprioritize spending in order to carry out DOE’s core functions efficiently and effectively while also being fiscally responsible and respectful to the American taxpayer.
“It reflects the importance of strengthening our nuclear capabilities, and places an emphasis on early stage energy technology research and development. As we refocus resources, we will continue to utilize our national laboratories for cutting edge science in order to improve both our energy and national security. I look forward to working with Congress as the budget process moves forward.”
Highlights in the FY 2018 budget include $6.4 billion for science and energy research and development programs, with a renewed focus on cutting-edge innovation and early-stage R&D, more than $370 million to help strengthen and protect America’s energy infrastructure and the DOE enterprise from cyberattacks and $120 million to advance the US nuclear waste management program.