Click here to return to Congressman Grene's home page
 
For Immediate Release
 
September 29, 2005
Finding Solutions To Big Problems :
 
CONGRESSMAN GENE GREEN OFFERS AMENDEMENTS
TO BETTER PREPARE COUNTRY IN TIMES OF NEED
 
Washington, DC-Congressman Gene Green (D-Houston) offered the Green Energy Assurance Amendment to H.R. 3893 during the Energy and Commerce Committee mark-up.  Chairman Joe Barton(R-Ennis) announced his support and the Green amendment was adopted.  The Committee later approved HR 3893 by voice vote, and the bill is expected on the House floor next week.
 
The Green Energy Assurance Amendment requires DOE to review, approve or disapprove, and make recommendations on the fuel supply portions of State evacuation plans.
 
“Texas did take precautionary measures in mobilizing its citizens, our office contacted the nursing homes and hospitals in our district to make sure that they were prepared for an evacuation or able to sustain themselves if they decided to stay.  Anyone who watched Texans struggling to evacuate without enough fuel saw a lack of energy planning,” said Congressman Gene Green.  “Last Wednesday everyone knew there was going to be a mass evacuation by millions of people, but fuel supply trucks did not start rolling on those evacuation routes until Thursday evening." 
 
“It was 100 degrees in Texas last week, and people needed to run their air conditioning to survive 15 hours in that kind of heat,” continued Congressman Gene Green.  “Our State’s weakness was exposed, but I doubt if other states have adequate fuel supply plans for evacuations from natural or man-made disasters.  DOE should find out.”
 
Congressman Gene Green’s amendment also authorizes critical energy facilities and DOE to work directly together during federal emergencies or disasters. 
 
The assistance includes, but is not limited to emergency power generation equipment, other protective or emergency recovery equipment, assistance to restore access to water and other raw materials, and transportation and housing for critical employees, and fuel refineries and truck availability to ensure proper fuel supply.
 
“One of the problems, for example, that we faced due to hurricane Rita was that the water sub-station in Baytown was damaged and became non-operational,” said Congressman Gene Green. “This threatened the residents and gasoline production facilities and it took three days to resolve.  Fuel is desperately needed in the aftermath of hurricanes.”
 
Currently requests for assistance must go through the local, then state, and then be coordinated with FEMA, taking up time. 
 
“During these emergency and disaster periods local, state, and FEMA officials are more concerned with preventing loss of life, as they should be,” said Congressman Gene Green.  “Since these officials are not energy experts, the Department of Energy needs to take the job of actively protecting the nation’s energy supply during times of crisis."
 
“This amendment allows DOE to work with the rest of the federal government to plan for our nation’s energy security during emergencies, and DOE is also authorized to write regulations to implement this new authority smoothly." 
 
The Committee also accepted an amendment offered by Congressman Gene Green to prioritize carpool and vanpool grants made by the Department of Energy based on the grants’ potential for oil conservation, whether they are to be located in Clean Air Act non-attainment areas, and whether they can be utilized during a State’s evacuation plan.
 
“During an evacuation, vanpools could be used to evacuate special needs populations and those who do not have or cannot afford transportation,” concluded Congressman Gene Green. 
 
###

 

Click here to Print this PagePrint this page

Click here to return to the News Center