As Congress gets ready to consider overreaching climate change legislation that would impose a national tax on energy consumption -- otherwise known as "cap and trade" -- I wanted to inform you that I recently cosponsored and am supporting alternative legislation introduced in the House, H.R. 2300, the American Energy Innovation Act.  This comprehensive piece of legislation seeks to foster investment in technology to expand the use of all energy sources - solar, wind, hydroelectric power, nuclear, biofuels, and domestic fossil fuels while providing incentives for increased energy conservation and efficiency.  It furthers the principle I firmly believe in which is that when it comes to energy in the United States, we need to be doing "all of the above" to increase domestic supplies and reduce prices for consumers.  I believe this common sense legislation is a better, more fiscally responsible approach to ending our dependence on foreign energy, providing a cleaner environment, keeping energy prices low and putting Americans to work in the process.

Taking steps today to increase supplies of American-made energy, which H.R. 2300 seeks to do, is a critical step toward improving our energy situation for the long term.  In that respect, I strongly oppose the new national energy tax legislation being supported by Democrat leaders in Congress and President Obama.  It will make traditional forms of energy more expensive for all Americans, and move us in exactly the wrong direction at exactly the wrong time for our struggling economy.  I believe we should allow the free market to tackle climate change by giving our businesses, consumers, and industry every incentive to develop and utilize the alternative energy technologies that will lead to significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.  The American Energy Innovation Act achieves these goals by encouraging investment and expansion in renewable energy sources, promoting conservation and efficiency, and increasing domestic energy production.