Washington, DC —  Congresswoman Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick (MI-13) issued the following statement regarding the American Clean Energy and Security Act, which passed in the House by a vote of 219 to 212.

Dear Madame Speaker:

I rise in strong support of H.R. 2454, the American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES) of 2009.  This long overdue, necessary, and needed step will make the earth a better place and reduce our dependence on foreign oil by cutting our use of foreign oil by more than five million barrels per day. The cost of this legislation is just 22 to 30 cents per day—less than the price of a postage stamp—or $80 to $111 per year, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This bill means more than 1.7 million jobs for our nation, including 54,000 for the State of Michigan and 23,000 jobs for the City of Detroit.  In order to ensure that we no longer import hundreds of barrels of oil per day and to have cleaner air, cleaner land, cleaner water, and a better future for my grand children and all children, most, if not all, Americans are willing to make that investment.

This bill represents the largest investment in jobs by our government since the Great Depression. Michigan and America must become part of the new technology, which is renewable technology.  The factories and industries that once built cars and trucks can now build wind turbines and solar panels and help make our electrical grid more efficient and effective. Replacing our nation’s old-fashioned, outdated, outmoded, and obsolete fossil fuel based energy production equipment will result in new research, new manufacturing, new energy sources, and new jobs. Michigan desperately needs this legislation.

I am blessed to represent the people of the 13th Congressional District of Michigan. The 13th Congressional District of Michigan has the highest percentage and number of low income families in the State of Michigan. Contrary to what opponents of this bill say, this bill will not add to the already burdensome pain our citizens have already endured and continue to endure.  Among other things, the bill provides $40 per month to low income families to help offset potential increases in energy. In fact, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has estimated that the bill would actually save low income consumers money on their utility bills. The wealthiest 20 percent of American households would only experience modest, affordable rate increases.

This bill will create the largest growth in jobs in the private sector since the Great Depression.  According to the EPA and the CBO, 1.7 million jobs will be created that cannot be resourced to other countries. These are good paying and secure jobs that will restore businesses and bring economic stability our cities, counties, and states. According to the Political Economy Research Institute, Michigan stands to gain 54,000 jobs, or 5.4% jobs for every resident in the state. That means 23,000 new jobs in Detroit alone.

This legislation is the work of many Committees and has been carefully crafted to avoid any undue burdens on agriculture and rural families. Farmers spend more money than any other industry on energy, which only underscores the fact that we need new energy policies that will lower their costs and lower their dependence on fuel. This legislation provides famers and the agricultural industry with unique opportunities to make money in energy, through siting windmills or solar panels on their lands or growing crops suitable for the production of biofuels. The bill provides assistance to farmers and agricultural businesses as we transition to renewable energy by providing them with free emissions allowances.

This legislation does not force other countries to reduce their emissions. This legislation cannot do that, anyway.  It does show the world that the United States is ready to take the lead in the fight against climate change. China and other European countries that have relied on fossil fuels have shown a willingness to start the fight against global warming. This is our opportunity, once again, to be the world leader that we have always been.

The reduction of the green house gases is not only good for our health and our children’s health, but it also sets the nation on a new pathway using Free-Enterprise principles. Polluted air affects our elderly and young people the most. That’s why the American Lung Association supports this bill. 

This bill is 30 years overdue; if we had started back then, we would be much less dependent on foreign oil, and our water, air, and earth would be cleaner. For the government to involve itself in the public health, the economy and national security is the oldest role of the government in the United States. This partnership of the government in these goals has added to the quality of the life we enjoy.

 We have the opportunity, and I will say the responsibility, to grow jobs in the 13th Congressional District and America. We have a duty to promote renewable energy, clean the air, clean the water, clean the earth, and deal with climate change. The nation that leads the effort toward clean and renewable energy will not only make our world a better place for our children, our grandchildren, and our families, but it will also lead the world economy for the next hundred years. This is that bill, and that is why I voted for H.R. 2454, the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009.