|
EMANUEL STATEMENT ON ENERGY BILL
|
| WASHINGTON, D.C.— House Democratic Caucus Chairman Rahm Emanuel issued the following statement this evening regarding the Comprehensive American Energy Security & Consumer Protection Act: “Mr. Speaker, for thirty years since the first oil shock of 1973, we have been facing an energy crisis in the United States. And let’s be honest and level with the American people. Both parties have missed opportunities to do something about it, and the American people hold all of us accountable. “So I’m proud that this Congress, for the first time, less than a year ago, increased the fuel efficiency standards for cars, something that has been kicked around, talked about for 30 years. This Congress, in its short first year, took action. “And I’m proud that our Republican colleagues who claim to be for an all of the above energy policy can vote for the most comprehensive energy policy and legislation in twenty years – what we have here today. “Now listen, you can be for drilling offshore, and this bill provides 300 million additional acres of drilling. That is not a cure to our energy independence. It is not just drilling offshore, but it is also what we do onshore in our laboratories, our universities, with our innovation and our technology for our energy independence. “This bill provides that we invest in our renewable energy technologies and ends big subsidies for big oil companies. We require utility companies to use wind, solar and biomass to generate more electricity. “What I’m most proud about is also what it does in the area of natural gas, which those who are in the industry see this as revolutionary for their industry. “Natural gas is 98 percent North American supply, 33 percent cleaner, and 40 percent cheaper. And it provides the infrastructure to make sure that our auto industry can start to convert and start to use natural gas, something that Europe has been doing and the United States has been lagging. “And here’s an energy source that today is available, and just in the state of Utah, drivers can pay 83 cents per gallon if they fill up with natural gas. “So the question is before us—are we going to have an energy policy that keeps us wedded to the past or begins to invest in our future. And this is the opportunity to do that.” |
###