Committee sets vote on DOE nominees, minerals bill

The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee will vote this week on top Department of Energy nominees and critical minerals legislation.

The panel will advance Wells Griffith, nominee to become undersecretary for energy, and Dario Gil, to become undersecretary for science.

During their confirmation hearing, Democrats and Republican Lisa Murkowski quizzed the nominees about the administration’s spending freezes and grant reconsiderations.

“The Congress has the power of the purse,” Griffith said. “Should I be confirmed, I will, first and foremost, follow the law on executing on the laws of this body and dispersing government funds.”