Washington, D.C.— Rep. Tom Rice (SC-07) today released the following statement regarding the House passage of H.R. 2609, the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act:

“My colleagues and I made clear our commitment to keeping America competitive and secure.  This legislation responsibly provides the funding needed to maintain and grow our nation’s infrastructure—in particular our waterways.  Our country’s waterways, such as the Georgetown Port, are vital to both domestic and international trade and are responsible for millions of American jobs.  This legislation also reduces our dependency on foreign oil by investing in “all-of-the-above” energy solutions, ultimately lowering energy costs for hardworking Americans and our nation’s job creators.”