Three current FERC vacancies severely jeopardizing oversight responsibilities
Washington, D.C. – (RealEstateRama) — Responding to unprecedented vacancies on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), Congressman Joe Kennedy III today sent a letter to President Donald J. Trump urging him to immediately appoint at least one nominee to fill one of the three vacant slots. Along with 13 of his Congressional colleagues mostly from the Northeast region, Kennedy wrote a letter outlining concerns that the FERC’s inability to reach a quorum will leave the country’s energy sector at a standstill.
“If regulators cannot properly oversee our energy sector, consumers cannot be guaranteed fair rates and communities cannot be promised safety,” said Congressman Kennedy. “The responsibility of reviewing the transmission and price of our energy should not be transferred to staff because the President has failed to appoint a full complement of commissioners. Just as we urged the previous Administration to fill these vacancies, we will continue to demand action from the Trump Administration.”
Kennedy’s letter was signed by: Congressman Bobby Rush (IL-01), Congressman Paul Tonko (NY-20), Congressman Richard Neal (MA-01), Congressman William Keating (MA-09), Congresswoman Katherine Clark (MA-05), Congressman John Sarbanes (MD-03), Congresswoman Diana DeGette (CO-01), Congressman Jim McGovern (MA-02), Congressman Seth Moulton (MA-06), Congressman Michael Capuano (MA-07), Congressman Peter Welch (VT-AL), Congressman Stephen Lynch (MA-08), and Congresswoman Niki Tsongas (MA-03).
Last year, Congressman Kennedy and Senator Edward J. Markey (D-MA) wrote a letter to President Barack Obama urging him to fill vacancies at the FERC. His Fair RATES Act that would increase transparency and ensure consumers have a voice in the energy regulatory process passed the House of Representatives in January and is awaiting a vote in the Senate.
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For Immediate Release:
February 22, 2017
Contact:
Emily Kaufman (617) 332-3333
Dan Black (202) 225-5931
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