The House this week repeatedly rejected Democrats' attempts to restore funding to clean energy research programs at the Energy Department.

Lawmakers yesterday and Monday voted down several Democratic amendments to the fiscal 2012 spending bill for DOE, the Army Corps of Engineers and Interior Department water programs, including one from Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) that would have increased funding for energy efficiency and renewable energy programs by $100 million while cutting funding for fossil energy research programs by $50 million.

"Saudi Arabia and Iran are rejoicing today because they now see House Republicans are waving the white flag when it comes to developing alternatives to oil," Markey said in a statement after the vote on his amendment, which failed 154-266. "The Republicans claim to favor an 'all of the above' energy policy, but when offered the chance to ensure that America funded wind, solar and energy efficiency technologies in addition to fossil fuels and nuclear, they refused to do so."

The House, which is controlled by a Republican majority, also successfully rejected similar amendments from Reps. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) and Brad Miller (D-N.C.) and amendments from Reps. Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.), David Wu (D-Ore.), John Garamendi (D-Calif.) and Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio) that would have transferred funding from other DOE agencies to the renewable energy and energy efficiency programs.

Democrats for weeks have been decrying the steep cuts for DOE's clean energy programs. The spending bill would provide $1.3 billion -- $491 million below last year's levels and $1.9 billion below the president's request -- for renewable energy and energy efficiency programs. But Republicans, who have led a charge this year against government spending, say the cuts are necessary.

Indeed, Republicans managed to approve a few more DOE spending cuts by passing amendments from Rep. Andy Harris (R-Md.) that would cut $6 million from the renewable energy and energy efficiency program and Rep. Rob Woodall (R-Ga.) that would ax DOE's American Home Energy Education Challenge. Both measures passed by voice vote.

But the chamber voted down a handful of GOP amendments that would have slashed funding even further, including one from Rep. Tom McClintock (R-Calif.) that would have gutted clean technology spending programs by slashing $3.25 billion.

Water amendments

The House also voted down a Democrat-authored amendment dealing with one of the more controversial areas of the bill, a provision that would block funding for a new Obama administration policy aimed at expanding federal protections on wetlands and streams.

Rep. Jim Moran (D-Va.) floated an amendment that would have omitted the provision, but that vote failed 170-250.

The chamber cleared three GOP water amendments, including one from Rep. Sam Graves (R-Mo.) that would increase funding for Missouri River levees, one from Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.) that would increase funding for Mississippi River dredging by $6.8 million and one from Woodall that would cut $5 million from the Army Corps' global warming planning program.

Lawmakers will continue debate on amendments to the spending bill and will hold a vote on final passage later this week.