Congressman Mike Conaway

Members Line Up Behind Conaway's Energy Conservation Bill
Members of Energy and Commerce Committee Back Conaway Legislation that aims to Lower Gas Prices through Conservation Campaign, 6/19/2006

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, members of the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee have added their names to Congressman Conaway’s fuel conservation education campaign legislation. Conaway, a former small business executive in the oil and natural gas industry, introduced legislation today that would establish a fuel conservation public-service campaign aimed at lowering the rising demand of gasoline in the short term.

“I am pleased by the number of high ranking committee members who added their name to this important legislation,” said Conaway. “This awareness campaign will be aimed at reducing the overall demand for gasoline by simply informing drivers of how they can cut down on fuel consumption. The problem of high gas prices requires both long-term and short-term solutions. This campaign is one way we can tackle the problem in the near future.”

The Fuel Conservation Education Act will create a public-private partnership between the Department of Energy and industry groups, including the automotive, gasoline refining, and oil sectors to create a public education campaign that provides information to U.S. drivers about IMMEDIATE measures that may be taken to conserve fuel. The bill authorizes the appropriation of $10 million to the Department of Energy. This public information campaign will reach a wide audience and include television, print, and internet advertising.

In January 2001, rapidly increasing energy demand led to rolling blackouts in California. As part of an effort to combat rising energy costs, a public-private conservation campaign was undertaken to help reduce demand. Over the course of the year, average Californians reduced peak demand by 89 percent and total consumption by 6.7 percent.

Original cosponsors of the bill include Rep. Ralph Hall (R-TX), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality and Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet. The bill also enjoys bipartisan support with Reps. Gene Green (D-TX), and Edolphus Towns (D-NY) also serving as original cosponsors. Other members have recently added their names as well and the bill enjoys broad, bipartisan support. The bill is expected to be marked-up in committee this week.

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