HRES-1537-119
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Sponsored by Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA)
What it does
This resolution expresses House support for designating September 14-18, 2026 as "National Clean Energy Week." It encourages investment in clean energy technologies, applauds Department of Energy National Laboratories, and recognizes the role of entrepreneurs and small businesses in energy development, but creates no new law, funding, or regulatory requirement.
Who benefits
No group gains any material or enforceable benefit, since the resolution is purely a statement of support. Clean energy trade associations and companies may receive symbolic recognition that could aid public messaging.
Who is hurt
No group is meaningfully affected. The resolution creates no obligations, spending, or restrictions on any industry, individual, or agency.
Supporters argue
Supporters argue the resolution appropriately recognizes a sector that, per the Department of Energy's 2025 United States Energy & Employment Report, employed approximately 8.5 million people at the end of 2024, and highlights the local, non-outsourceable nature of clean energy construction and maintenance jobs. They contend that symbolic recognition from Congress can encourage continued private and public investment in domestically sited energy technologies and honor the contributions of national laboratories across many states.
Opponents argue
Opponents argue that commemorative resolutions like this one consume floor time and committee attention without producing any binding policy, funding, or regulatory change, so their practical value is limited to messaging. They contend that if Congress wants to support clean energy jobs and technology deployment, it should pass substantive legislation with measurable funding or regulatory provisions rather than a non-binding statement of support.
Constitutional context
This resolution raises no constitutional question beyond Congress's general authority to adopt simple resolutions expressing the sense of the House.
Checks and balances
The House alone adopts this resolution as a non-binding statement; it creates no new authority for any branch and requires no executive or judicial action.
Historical precedent
Congress has previously passed similar commemorative resolutions supporting "National Clean Energy Week" in prior years, following the common practice of designating symbolic weeks for various causes and industries.