FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
July 28, 2005
Contact:  Rachel Kleinman
(202) 225-3772
 

Ross Announces House Passage of Comprehensive Energy Bill
 
(Washington, D.C.) U.S. Rep. Mike Ross (AR-04) Thursday announced the passage of the Conference Report for H.R. 6, the Energy Policy Act of 2005, in the U.S. House of Representatives.  Ross, a member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, voted in favor of the legislation. 

The Energy Conference Report offers incentives that encourage American refineries to produce more gasoline and oil by-products.  The bill also encourages consumers and businesses to use renewable, alternative energy sources such as hybrid vehicles to help reduce oil consumption.  Included in the bill are tax credits, up to $3,400, for consumers to buy certain hybrid vehicles. 

The bill increases the amount of ethanol required to be added to gasoline, allowing gasoline to burn cleaner and making it more environmentally friendly.  Consumption of ethanol in gasoline in 2002 was 2.1 billion gallons.  Under the Energy Bill, annual average volume of renewable fuel additives would incrementally increase, reaching 7.5 billion gallons in 2012, tripling the current amount.  The Energy Bill also promotes the usage of clean coal technology and renewable resources such as biomass, wind, solar and hydroelectricity.   

“The time to pass a comprehensive, new energy policy for America is now,” said Ross.  “Reliance on foreign oil jeopardizes our national economy, as evidenced today by skyrocketing prices at the pump.  As I travel across Arkansas’s Fourth Congressional District, I see struggling seniors and poultry farmers as a result of high natural gas prices in the winter.  I see business owners and farmers become less profitable and less competitive due to high energy prices.” 

“This bill is not perfect.  There is no silver bullet that will solve America’s energy crisis.  However, the new Energy Bill makes several strides in the right direction.  It will ultimately increase our domestic oil production, reducing our dependence on foreign oil.  This is a multi-faceted approach that combines renewable resources, alternative fuels, nuclear, and other innovative technologies with conventional energy sources.  With the passage of this bill, America can better position itself to meet its future energy needs.” 

The House passed their version of this legislation on April 21, 2005 and the Senate passed a similar version on June 28, 2005.  The Energy Conference Committee submitted a report to the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate for consideration this week.   The Senate must pass the conference report before sending it to President Bush’s desk to sign the report into law.


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