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Washington, D.C., April 20th – Congressman Jim Moran, Virginia Democrat, issued his statement expressing strong opposition to the energy bill being considered by the House this week. Final passage of the bill is expected Thursday.
“At a time when gas prices are soaring and our country’s reliance on foreign oil is ever-growing, we are still debating the same bill that failed to pass two years ago, oblivious to rapidly changing circumstances around the world,” said Moran. “Whether it is through indifference or ineptitude, House leaders have failed to craft a blueprint for our nation’s energy consumption and production that is forward thinking. Instead, we continue to indulge our costly and environmentally unsound addiction to foreign oil. Putting our country at the mercy of foreign oil producers puts our national security at risk and compromises our economic independence.”
“One of the main provisions in the bill is to open up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) to oil and gas drilling. Despoiling one of the few truly pristine regions of the country, the projected oil and gas production from drilling the ANWR will barely make a dent in our overall energy needs.”
“To tackle this looming energy crisis, we should have the courage to take bold steps to develop and expand access to alternative renewable resources, while lowering CAFE standards which have not changed in twenty years. Had we had the foresight to raise CAFE standards in the early 1990’s (for light trucks to 27 miles per gallon and cars to 33 miles per gallon), we could have saved all the oil we import from the Persian Gulf today.”
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