FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 26, 2009

CONTACT: Emily Barocas/202-225-7295

LARSON: CONGRESS TOOK AN HISTORIC STEP TODAY TO CREATE JOBS, PROTECT THE COUNTRY

Washington, DC - The House of Representatives took an historic vote in favor of Clean Energy Jobs legislation that will create American jobs, spur economic growth, reduce pollution and reduce our dependence on foreign oil.  Congressman John B. Larson (CT-01), Chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, said:

"In the month of April the United States exported $6.8 billion to OPEC nations to feed our addiction to foreign oil.  That means $1.5 billion to Saudi Arabia, $1.5 billion to Venezuela, and almost $170 million to Libya.  That is the real tax the American people are paying.  The former President Bush even stood on the floor of this House and admonished our addiction to foreign oil.  Yet, the Republican Congress lacked the courage to make a stand, or the patriotic fervor or fiber to do the right thing.

"On this historic day this Congress said no more - no more to sending our hard-earned dollars overseas to fund our enemies, no more putting our security and our men and women in uniform in harm's way because of oil, no more to polluting emissions that ruin our air and water and make our kids sick - no more.

"Instead, we helped build a future where we invest in the clean, renewable energy we produce right here in America be it from solar, wind, geothermal or fuel cell sources, spurring the creation of jobs in entirely new industries that will stay right here in America.

"We took a patriotic stand in support of American ingenuity and innovation.  I believe in the American people's ability to remake the world.  This is the future and I fear my colleagues on the other side of the aisle who voted against the bill are stuck in the past." 

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