House GOP mulling cuts to DOE loan program in spending bill

The Energy Department loan guarantee program, which was funded with $2.4 billion in a 2009 energy law, enables financing for advanced energy projects like solar, wind and biofuels.

Democrats have blasted Republicans for proposing to cut $1.5 billion from the Energy Department’s Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing Program (ATVM) to offset the cost of emergency disaster aid.

The spending measure failed Wednesday in a 195-230 vote, with Democrats pulling their support for the measure over the disaster aid offset. Four dozen Republicans also voted against the bill.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said Thursday that Democrats won’t support any offsets to the disaster-relief provision of the GOP’s continuing resolution. The California Democrat said such a move sets a dangerous precedent that could delay emergency help for victims of future natural disasters. 

“There has never been an offset for disaster assistance,” Pelosi said during a press briefing in the Capitol. “There are many emergencies [that have been offset]. A natural disaster is something else.”

—Mike Lillis contributed to this story.