Spokeswoman: Biggert Energy Policy Consistent Despite Vote to Cut Argonne Funding

U.S. Rep. Judy Biggert’s vote to cut funding to Argonne National Laboratory does not signal a change in her level of support for the lab’s research, a Biggert spokeswoman said Friday.

Biggert, whose district includes Argonne and the surrounding area, was one of 235 Republicans who voted Feb. 19 to federal energy-efficiency programs that fund much of the Darien-area lab’s research.

The proposed cuts could cost Argonne 1,000 jobs, according to a Feb. 18 letter from Sen. Dick Durbin, D-IL, denouncing the move. Another 435 jobs could be lost at Batavia’s Fermilab, Durbin wrote.

Biggert spokeswoman Abby Milone said Friday in an e-mailed statement that H.R. 1 is designed to curb federal spending and help restore the U.S. economy.

“In terms of science funding, the Congresswoman is pushing to ensure that Department of Energy cuts are targeted at duplicative and wasteful programs, like ARPA-E (Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy), rather than more important priorities elsewhere,” Milone wrote. “She plans to continue working with officials at Argonne and Fermilab to maintain federal support for local scientific priorities without avoiding the tough choices when it comes to fiscal responsibility.”

Biggert proposed an amendment to H.R. 1 that would cut ARPA-E funding by $50 million. ARPA-E is a program created in 2007 to fund nontraditional energy research projects focused on efficiency and reducing dependence on foreign energy, according to its website.

Continuing to fund ARPA-E at current levels could divert funding to the Department of Energy’s Office of Science, Biggert said during House remarks Feb. 15.

The amendment failed in the House by a vote of 170-262. In the version the House passed, H.R. 1 proposes $250 million in cuts from ARPA-E’s $300 million budget, according to Durbin’s letter.