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RELATED LEGISLATION:
Cosigned
Letter to President Bush that addressed the need to improve Corporate Average
Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards. The letter, from several Members of Congress,
said we wanted to work with President Bush to incorporate new standards when
formulating the energy plan.
Cosponsor of H.R. 1082
Would amend the Food Security Act of 2001 to increase wetland conservation from
36,400 acres to more than 45,000 acres.
Cosponsor of H.R. 1256 - Clean Smokestacks Act.
This legislation, if passed, would require outdated power plants in the United
States to comply with the most recent new source performance standards under
the Clean Air Act provisions regarding air quality and emission limitations.
Cosponsor of H.R. 1494 - National Forest Protection and Restoration Act
Would eliminate commercial logging on Federal public lands. Knowing that many
families depend on logging for their livelihood, the legislation would support
the economic recovery and diversification of communities dependent on the federal
logging program. By protecting our public forests, this legislation would begin
to restore America's natural heritage.
Cosponsor of H.R. 1815
Would gradually phase in higher fuel efficiency standards for light trucks and
SUVs.
The energy bill recently approved by Congress, H.R. 4, failed to set higher
fuel efficiency standards that would make a significant impact on reducing
U.S. dependence on foreign oil, cutting air and carbon dioxide pollution, and
saving consumers money at the gas pump. I supported an amendment that would
have increased fuel efficiency standards to an average of 26 mpg by the year
2007.
Cosponsor of H.R. 701- Conservation Reinvestment Act
Would provide an additional $45 million over several years to the North American
Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA).
Cosponsor of H.R. 770 - Morris K. Udall Arctic Wilderness Act of 2001
Would permanently preserve the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) as wilderness
in recognition of its extraordinary natural ecosystems, and keep this area
pristine for present and future generations. It would also designate specified
lands in Alaska as wilderness and components of the National Wilderness Preservation
System.
Opposed
An amendment to H.R. 4, the Energy Bill that would authorize drilling for oil
and gas in ANWR.
Opposed to H.R. 4 - Energy Bill
This bill provides billions of dollars worth of tax incentives for large oil
companies, which are already making record profits. H.R. 4 also stresses more
domestic drilling while ignoring the need to conserve and make vital investments
in renewable and alternative energy sources.
H.R. 4 does include $33.5 billion in subsidies for renewable energy technologies
and conservation and energy production. However, the bulk of the credits -
approximately $27 billion - go to traditional energy producers, both to drill
for more oil and gas and to develop nuclear energy. Energy producers claim
these subsidies are needed to offset the high cost of energy exploration and
extraction. However, the Wall Street Journal recently reported the energy industry
accumulated over $11 billion dollars in profits just last year alone.
H.R. 4 would also lower royalties paid by oil companies to the federal government
for offshore drilling in the central and southern Gulf of Mexico. Combined
with the huge tax cut President Bush signed into law in May 2001 and a dwindling
federal surplus, these special interest breaks further threaten our federal
budget, including Social Security and Medicare.
Moreover, I do not believe the need for more funding of alternative fuel technologies
should be ignored for the sake of giving the wealthiest oil and natural gas
producers more money.
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