Majority Leader Schumer Floor Remarks On The Senate Moving This Week To Confirm President Biden’s Nominees To The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

Washington, D.C. –  Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) today urged his colleagues to swiftly confirm three nominees to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). Below are Senator Schumer’s remarks, which can also be viewed here:

This week, the Senate has several important nominees to confirm to one of the most important agencies with a daunting-sounding name: the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

FERC, as it is usually called, rarely show up on most people’s radar screens. But its mission is essential: every time you turn on the light or touch the thermostat or see new power lines go up, the rules and regulations and policies of FERC are at work. FERC ensures the rates for electricity remain just and reasonable – that’s their job to do that. It regulates the transmission of power across state lines. It ensures our power grid is safe and reliable.

But if the Senate does not act soon, FERC could soon lose its quorum and much of its work could come to a halt. If these vacancies go on for too long, it would create serious backlog and delay, potentially slowing down new projects that power people’s homes and cities.

So, I am glad to move forward on three new FERC nominations here on the Senate floor. I hope we confirm all three by the end of the week so FERC can keep its quorum and continue its mission of providing Americans with affordable, reliable, safe energy.

I thank Chairman Manchin and Ranking Member Barrasso for working together in a bipartisan way in good faith to bring these nominees through.

###