Date: 2007-12-06
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I would like to thank my friend from Louisiana for allowingme to speak. Mr. Speaker. there is no question this is a historic day. This bill will substantially increase fuel economy standards for the first time in over 20 years. increase energy efficiency requirements.- and promote research and development of alternative sources. These are all worthy accomplishments. and the efforts of Chairman DINGELL should be commended. LI 1345 The only opportunity this Congress missed was to create a balanced energy policy that invests in our energy future without ignoring Americas energy needs today. I believe as Democrats. we could have crafted a sensible energy policy that actually enhances. our energy security. but that would require bringing all Democrats to the table. including those of us who represent districts that produce energy needed to heat our homes. fuel our vehicles. and generate our economic prosperity. While some improvements from the previous bill. H.R. 3221. have been made. new additions that have not been thoroughly debated have been included and could have a negative impact on the cost of energy in our area. For that reason. I must vote against the legislation and hope that we can instead vote on an energy bill that is focused on provisions we can agree on. such as a bill to increase CAFE standards. energy efficiency standards. and that would actually increase energy security in the United States. I am particularly disappointed in the lack of discussion on the renewable fuel standard. RFS. which was not included in our House bill and was not moved through any regular process in the House of Representatives. It is premature to consider expanding the RFS until our current one is fully implemented. and we run the risk of negative environmental impacts. questionable greenhouse gas emissions. and increased food and energy prices with a focus on cornbased ethanbl. A sensible approach would have been to require RFS to include. prior to taking effect. a clear mechanism to reduce the mandate in case the environmental challenges. technological. or feasibility of supply issues. or projected food price increases were impacted. This bill includes tax provisions outside of those carefully negotiated earlier in H.R. 6 that actually tilt the competitive playing field for global energy resources against U.S.-based oil and gas companies and discourage the expansion of natural gas distribution systems. Thete has been an effort to moderate some of the tax provisions passed early in August. particularly by retaining current deduction levels under section 199 for our Nations independent producers. I am glad that happened. but I am concerned with the impact on my constituents and their electricity bills with a Federal renewable electricity standard. the RES. Under a onesizefitsall mandate. Texas utilities may be forced to make payments to the Federal Government to meet a 20 percent target or a 15 percent target. or 11 percent. now we hear it is 11 percent. ultimately driving up costs for the utility. the electricity users. I wish Congress would capitalize on this historic moment and actually make it to where we could pass an energy bill that would be bipartisan. We could instead have a more sensible bill that focused on the provisions we all agree on. increase CAFE standards and energy standards. and that would meet with Senate and Presidential approval. Mr. Speaker. there is no question this is a truly historic day for Congress. This bill will substantially increase fuel economy standards for the first time in over 20 years. increase energy efficiency requirements. and promote research and development of alternative sources of energy. These are all worthy accomplishments and the efforts of the Chairman should be commended. The only opportunity this Congress missed. Mr. Speaker. was to create a balanced energy policy that invests in our energy future without ignoring Americas energy needs today. I believe as Democrats we can craft sensibleenergy policy that actually enhances our energy security. but that would require bringing all Democrats to the table. including those of us who represent Districts that produce the energy needed to heat our homes. fuel our vehicles. and generate our economic prosperity. I believe that day will come. but after reviewing some of the proposals contained in this legislation. it is clear we have a long way to go. While some improvements from H.R. 3221 have been made. new additions that have not been thoroughly debated by this House and that could have a negative impact on the cost of energy have been included. For that reason. I must regrettably vote against this legislation and hope that we instead vote on an energy bill that is focused on the provisions we can all agree onsuch as a bill to increase CAFE and energy efficiency standardsand that will actually increase the energy security of the United States.