U.S. Congressman Randy Kuhl : 29th District Of New York

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Energy and Environment

From high gas prices to global warming, energy is a key discussion in the daily news and everywhere else you look.

Given the rising prices we face at the gas pump and our continued dependence on foreign oil, it is evident that we must find reliable sources of oil in the short term while searching for alternative, renewable energy sources for the long term. The price of fuel is a major economic indicator that affects all of our daily lives. When oil prices skyrocket, so do the prices of goods and services transported by trucks and the prices of airline tickets. The recent fuel price increase can be attributed to a number of factors, and as such, we need a multi-faceted strategy to combat this energy crisis.

I am a member of several House Caucuses that focus on energy issues, including the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucus, the Oil and National Security Caucus, and the Reliable Energy Caucus. I understand that we must take action now in order to help Americans like you and me tackle the high-energy bills we face, while also helping to cut back on our use of energy.
Our nation needs a strong energy plan to help us meet our current and future needs, and as your Representative, I am fully committed to exploring ways in which we can modernize and diversify our energy supply.

On two separate occasions, I returned to Washington, D.C. to protest the decision to adjourn Congress for a five week vacation without addressing energy costs. I voted twice against adjourning Congress for the August district work period, and have been calling on the Speaker to bring Congress back into session. Even though the president can declare that Congress must sit for an emergency session, a move that I support, he cannot set the agenda – only the leadership of the majority party can bring up vital energy legislation for a vote. I returned to Washington, D.C. to continue our months-long effort to demand the opportunity to debate and vote on the responsible piece of energy legislation I introduced earlier this summer, H.R. 6566, the American Energy Act.

The American Energy Act is a comprehensive piece of legislation that will boost supplies of all forms of energy produced in the U.S. to reduce our dependence on foreign sources of energy. Secondly, and equally as important, H.R. 6566 will promote new, clean, and reliable sources of energy. This is going to be achieved by increasing the supply of American-made energy, improving energy efficiency, and encouraging investment in groundbreaking research in advanced alternative and renewable energy technologies.

This bill is the “all-of-the-above” energy plan this country needs. It is a comprehensive bill that includes improving conservation and efficiency, drilling in America, increasing the supply of American-made energy, bringing online additional refineries, and developing all viable alternative or renewable fuel sources and technologies. This legislation opens our deep water ocean resources, opens the Arctic coastal plain, and allows the development of our nation’s shale oil resources. It also provides tax incentives for businesses, families and homeowners who purchase more fuel efficient vehicles or improve their energy efficiency.

However, in this time of rising energy prices, we must not over look the importance of preserving our environment for future generations. That is why I have been active in introducing legislation to provide tax incentives to businesses and individuals and spur the innovation and development of renewable and alternative fuels and technologies. I cosponsored H.R. 2652, the Generating Renewable Energy and Encouraging Novel (GREEN) Technologies Act, which will invest in and research technologies to increase the viability of clean, advanced, renewable and alternative energy sources. I have also cosponsored H.R. 5984, the Clean Energy Tax Stimulus Act, which will encourage greater energy efficiency, extend renewable energy tax credits and offer conservation tax incentives to those who make their home, car, or business more energy efficient. I introduced H.R. 6249, the Helping Home Owners Make Energy-efficient Residential Upgrades Now (H-HOMERUN) Act, which will create a loan program for residential energy efficient upgrades. In addition, I have cosponsored legislation to make energy efficiency home upgrades tax deductible and to extend energy efficiency tax credits for fuel cells, solar energy, and geothermal heat pump systems (H.R. 550, H.R. 6133, H.R. 1596, H.R. 2990), and to provide incentives to encourage better gas mileage for cars, SUVs and light trucks (H.R. 1506, H.R. 6, H.R. 656, H.R. 1618).

All of these bills are part of my energy agenda to increase our American-made energy supply while protecting our environment and increasing alternative, renewable energy sources. There is no one, single answer to reducing our dependence on foreign oil and achieving energy independence and that is why we need a comprehensive, diverse energy strategy. We need energy legislation that increases American made energy, promotes energy independence and lowers gas and fuel prices now.

In Washington, D.C., I am working on advancing these important energy reform policies so we can finally see some relief for Americans at the pump. I have spent the last six months using every tool at my disposal to try and get a vote on legislation to lower gas and energy prices by expanding environmentally sound domestic production of oil and natural gas, improving energy efficiency, and encouraging the development of alternative energy technologies. I have introduced bills, offered amendments, and filed discharge petitions in an effort to bring legislation to the floor of the House. Bill after bill has been ignored and solution after solution has been disregarded. American families are hurting and we cannot afford to wait any longer for a vote to lower gas prices.

I am committed to a comprehensive energy reform policy that will boost supplies of all forms of energy right here at home to reduce our dependence on foreign sources of energy, create American jobs, and grow our economy.