LEGISLATION CONTINUES TAXPAYER SUBSIDIES TO BIG OIL, FAILS TO RENEW PRODUCTION TAX CREDITS FOR WIND AND SOLAR ENERGY

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Nancy Boyda (Kansas Second District) today voted against the Senate-passed version of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007.

The Senate bill stripped important provisions from earlier versions of the legislation passed by the U.S. House of Representatives. The House approved the revised bill today on a 314-100 vote, over Rep. Boyda's opposition.

"I've said for years that America needs to dramatically overhaul our energy policy. Unfortunately, today's bill falls far short of the mark," Rep. Boyda said. "It does contain some good provisions, such as higher CAFE standards and a strong renewable fuel requirement, but it just doesn't do enough."

Rep. Boyda added, "This decision was one of the hardest I've had to make in Congress. There is much good in the bill, but at some point, you just have to say, 'Enough is enough.'"

The earlier House version of the legislation would have repealed billions of dollars in subsidies from the five major oil companies in order to invest in biofuels and wind energy. It also set a target of providing 15% of America's national energy needs from renewable sources by 2020, and it renewed the production tax credits for wind, solar, and a variety of other energy sources. These measures were removed in the Senate.

"Biofuels and wind energy offer tremendous promise both for America's energy future and for the Kansas economy," Rep. Boyda said. "Earlier versions of the bill would have invested hundreds of millions of dollars in renewable energy right here in the Midwest. Today's bill sends those same dollars to the Middle East."

She added, "America's dependence on foreign oil is harming our national security and weakening our economy. Nothing will change as long as Washington keeps caving to the oil industry instead of doing what's right."