Date: 2007-08-04
Speaker: LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker. first of all I would like to thank my friend. the gentleman from Vermont for the time. Mr. Speaker. last night. the majority on the Rules Committee passed a rule that in an extreme fashion limits debate on our national energy policy. The rule only allows for debate on 23 amendments to H.R. 3221. out of 106 amendments sought to be debated by Members of both parties in this House. And out of those 23 amendments made in order. only five are Republican amendments. What is even more unfortunate is that in the same rule they completely shut out both Republicans and Democrats from offering any amendments to H.R. 2776. Between the two bills. Mr. Speaker. a total of 94 amendments were prohibited from being considered by this House. And to add insult to injury. the majority also denied the minority the opportunity to offer a substitute. Mr. Speaker. I would like to refresh the majority of a campaign promise they made. The distinguished Speaker said. "Bills should generally come to the floor under a procedure that allows open. full and fair debate. consisting of a full amendment process that grants the minority a right to offer its alternatives. including a substitute." They promised openness. They promised bipartisanship. Some openness. Some bipartisanship. .Mr. Speaker. everyone in this body. I firmly believe. seeks to leave our children and grandchildren a better world in which to live. This great Nation has made great strides in protecting human health and the environment. but clearly we can do more. From 2001 to 2006. Republicanled Congresses invested nearly $12 billiol to develop cleaner. cheaper and more reliable domestic renewable energy sources. This includes sources such as cellulosic ethanol. hybrid electric vehicle technologies. hydrogen fuel cell technologies. wind and solar energy. clean coal and advanced nuclear technologies. But we must always keep in mind that alternative fuels will not eliminate the need for traditional energy sources. and. without additional supply. the tight market conditions that have put pressure on prices are going to persist. Mr. Speaker. that is something that I must say our friends on the other -side of the aisle seem to not grasp. Ignoring this lesson will result in our continued dependence on foreign supplies. using U.S. dollars to line the pockets of thugs and dictators like Chavez in Venezuela as he spreads antiAmerican propaganda and actions throughout this hemisphere and the world. I am pleased. Mr. Speaker. by inclusion of the production tax credit in H.R. 2776. That PTC provides a tax creditfor electricity produced from renewable energy facilities. Sources such as wind. solar and biomass are included under the tax credit. Since its enactment in 1992. the credit has encouraged the development of thousands of megawatts of clean. renewable electric generation facilities. Florida. for example. Mr. Speaker. is home to Florida Power & Light. owner and operator of two of the largest solar projects in the world and the Nations largest wind energy company. Because of the longterm commitment to renewable energies by this Congress. companies like FPL have made significant. needed investments to advance nonemitting forms of energy. and that is the kind of work that we must continue. Now. the majority. Mr. Speaker. promised that it would run the House in an open and bipartisan manner. If this is an open and bipartisan process. I would hate to see a closed one. Later today I fear the majority will break precedent again and come to the floor to close the open amendment process on the Department of Defense appropriations bill as well. Mr. Speaker. this has been a difficult week for both sides of the aisle. but moving forward with restrictive rules such as this on important issues only makes matters worse. It is most unwise. as well as unfortunate. This rule is unnecessarily unfair and should be soundly defeated. Mr. Speaker. I reserve the balance of my time.