Eighteen months after Republicans first launched an investigation into Solyndra, the House today passed the "No More Solyndras Act," which is aimed at winding down the Department of Energy loan program that funded the now-bankrupt solar company to the tune of $535 million.

The measure crafted by the House Energy and Commerce Committee does not completely eliminate the program -- under the bill about 50 projects for which applications were submitted by a Dec. 31, 2011, cutoff date could still be considered for loans. But Republicans have framed the bill as a way to limit further taxpayer exposure when it comes to the clean energy loan program.

"No More Solyndras is a starting point to the realization that this Congress should not fund anything over which the American people's tax dollar cannot be safeguarded," said House Oversight and Government Reform Chairman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), who continues to conduct a separate investigation into the loan program (E&E Daily, Sept. 14).

While the legislation had earned some criticism from conservatives who believed the measure should shut down the loan program immediately, Republican leaders were able to keep that argument off the House floor today when they chose not to allow debate on an amendment by Rep. Tom McClintock (R-Calif.) that would have done just that.

The House passed the No More Solyndras Act by a vote of 245-161, with 22 Democrats joining Republicans in voting for the bill and four Republicans voting against it.

Republicans successfully beat back two Democratic amendments aimed at taking some of the teeth out of the legislation. In addition, Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) attempted a final legislative maneuver to tie up the bill with a motion to recommit that would have added a "buy America" provision to the issuance of any new loans and made the awarding of any new loans contingent on the extension of the wind energy production tax credit (PTC) that is set to expire at the end of this year.

House Energy and Commerce Chairman Fred Upton (R-Calif.), who managed the bill on the floor, urged his colleagues not to allow Democrats to conflate the loan program with the looming PTC battle.

"Extending the wind tax credit will be part of the larger debate that the House will have" after the election, Upton assured his colleagues.

But today's victory is sure to be short-lived, as Democratic members -- who view the measure as nothing more than a political messaging bill ahead of the November election -- repeatedly pointed out this morning that the legislation is certain to stall in the Senate, which is controlled by Democrats.

"I want people to understand this is all a sham," House Energy and Commerce Committee ranking member Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) said. "Republicans are just trying to put out propaganda. ... They've been dancing on the grave of Solyndra for so long; enough is enough."

Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.) equated the legislation to a mule that has "neither pride of parentage nor hope for posterity."

Several Republicans rose this morning to praise the leadership of Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-Fla.), who led the Energy and Commerce investigation into Solyndra and crafted the bill. Stearns will not be returning to Congress next year after losing in a primary to a little-known tea party candidate.

But while expressing his good wishes to Stearns on his way out the door, Dingell said the No More Solyndras Act is a poor testimony to the work of a longtime congressman.

"If anyone were to put a monument like this to me, I would bend this cane over his head," Dingell said, pointing to his walking stick.

Reporter Nick Juliano contributed.