Perry's Energy Confirmation Hearing Wraps Up On Light Note
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WASHINGTON, D.C. (CBSDFW.COM) - It was before Christmas last year when President-Elect Donald Trump selected former Texas Gov. Rick Perry to be Secretary of Energy. Today Perry testified during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.
Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) introduced Perry to the committee saying, "The guiding principles of Gov. Perry's tenure are smart regulation, encouraging innovation and creating a climate that grows every aspect of energy production and has continued to serve our state well. So, I have absolutely no doubt that Rick Perry will put forward an America-first energy policy at the Department, and it will help spawn the next great era of American energy."
While Perry has been tapped to lead the agency, there was a time when he suggested that it be shut down. When the former governor ran for the 2012 presidency, during a debate, he famously forgot the name one of the three agencies he had pledged to eliminate.
"The third agency of government I would -- I would do away with Education, the -- Commerce... Commerce and, let's see. I can't. The third one, I can't. Sorry -- oops," he said.
In remarks prepared ahead of the hearing, Perry said, "My past statements made over five years ago about abolishing the Department of Energy do not reflect my current thinking. In fact, after being briefed on so many of the vital functions of the Department of Energy, I regret recommending its elimination."
Perry, who has expressed skepticism in the past about climate change, addressed the contentious issue Thursday, saying in his prepared testimony of global warming: "I believe some of it is naturally occurring, but some of it is also caused by man-made activity."
"The question is how do we address it in a thoughtful way that doesn't compromise economic growth, the affordability of energy or American jobs," he said.
Perry, who had some vitriolic spats with Mr. Trump while on the campaign trail, pledged Thursday to carry out the president-elect's energy policy, which includes investments in renewable fuels.
"My understanding from having conversations with president-elect Trump is that he truly is an all-of-the-above supporter of American energy," Perry said.
Until recently, Perry sat on the board of Dallas pipeline company Energy Transfer Partners, which is building the Dakota Access Pipeline. He resigned last year, following Mr. Trump's announcement naming him to the energy secretary position.
In one moment of levity during his Senate questioning, Perry drew some laughter for his comments to Minnesota Sen. Al Franken, a former "Saturday Night Live" comedian.
"Governor, thank you for coming into my office," Franken said at the beginning of his line of questioning. "Did you enjoy meeting me?"
Referencing his chat with Franken in his Senate offices, Perry quipped: "I hope you are as much fun on that dais as you were on that couch."
Several members of the committee burst into laughter, with Franken shaking his head.
"May I rephrase that sir, please?" Perry said, laughingly noting that "well, I think we found our Saturday Night Live soundbite."
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