The House passed (220-185) H.R.4447 a Democratic bill authorizes various programs and activities throughout the Energy Department to promote the development of clean energy, increase energy efficiency, improve the national electric grid, and promote the development of carbon capture and greenhouse gas reduction technologies — all in an effort to reduce greenhouse gases and other emissions that contribute to climate change. Among its provisions, it reauthorizes and expands research and development programs for renewable and alternative energy; authorizes programs to help make homes, public buildings and industries more energy efficient; establishes and expands policies and programs to support the deployment and commercial applications of clean energy technologies and U.S. manufacturing, and the growth of clean-energy jobs; and includes environmental justice provisions requiring federal agencies to identify and mitigate the adverse human health or environmental impacts that federal programs or activities have on minorities and low-income communities.

Supporters of the bill, primarily Democrats, say the bill will accomplish multiple goals of promoting cleaner energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, while also promoting job creation and economic development in the energy sector. They say the investments into research and development will help promote the development of renewable energy technologies and systems needed to mitigate the worst impacts of climate change. They say the bill's support of both renewable energy technologies and innovative electric grid systems will help improve the resilience, security and cost-effectiveness of the U.S. electric grid.

Opponents of the bill, primarily Republicans, say that the bill spends too much taxpayer money without guaranteeing that it will actually help improve the national energy infrastructure. Specifically, they argue that it simply provides additional funding for research efforts instead of making targeted investments in energy infrastructure. They also say that the bill's support of renewable energy is simply another example of the government "picking winners and losers" by favoring investments in certain sectors instead of others.

Should the Senate pass H.R.4447, the Clean Economy Jobs and Innovation Act?