Politics

House Passes the Comprehensive American Energy Security and Consumer Protection Act

By Karina

The House has passed the Comprehensive American Energy Security and Consumer Protection Act by a vote of 236-189. The legislation puts us on the path toward energy independence by expanding domestic supply, protecting consumers with strong action to lower the costs of energy, protects taxpayers by making Big Oil pay for its fair share of our transition to a clean, renewable energy future, and helps create millions of good-paying green jobs.

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Chairman Rahall:

Rep. Rahall: “We stand at a crossroads and the two paths before us are crystal clear. Those of us supporting the pending legislation bring with us the new age conviction that in order for this nation to be truly secure we must bridge the gap between our addiction to oil, to a future empowered by more secure, safe and reliable sources of power - that we must shatter the shackles of the past and remove the bonds that have placed such a burden on the American people and on our security as a nation. The other path is less enlightened. It carries with it the belief that it is subservients of the policy of the past can sustain the country in the years and decades ahead. It will sacrifice America’s energy security on the alter of big oil’s profits and its profiteering. The choice is quite clear.”

Rep. DeFazio:

Rep. DeFazio: “The oil and gas industry contributed $166 million to the Republicans since 1990, 75% of their political contributions. In fact, when President Bush took office, gas cost $1.47 a gallon. Today, gas costs $3.79. In fact, in 2002, the oil companies made $30 billion in profits. In 2008, it’s projected they will make an unbelievable record $160 billion of profits, every penny extracted from American consumers and American small businesses and borrowed from overseas, putting us in huge trouble. The oil companies took care of the Republican cronies and the Republicans legislated on their behalf.”

Rep. Berkley:

Rep. Berkley: “Energy independence is not just an environmental issue or an economic issue, it’s a national security imperative. We pay exorbitant prices for oil from countries like Venezuela and Saudi Arabia who support and finance terrorism and terrorist attacks on America and our allies. We must stop funding both sides of the war on terror by encouraging the development of renewable energy and energy independence, this bill helps move this country in the right direction. Our nation has only 3% of the world’s oil reserves and yet, our energy future is being held up on the fantasy we can drill our way out of our energy problems.”

Full post as published by The Gavel on September 16, 2008 (boomark / email).