New Direction for Energy Independence, National Security, and Consumer Protection Act

Floor Speech

NEW DIRECTION FOR ENERGY INDEPENDENCE, NATIONAL SECURITY, AND CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. BILBRAY. Mr. Chairman, in San Diego County today, the consumers are paying over $3.50 for gasoline, and people point fingers at the oil companies when, in fact, Washington, DC, has mandated that we put in our gasoline corn-based ethanol that costs $4 a gallon. And considering that you need 1 1/2 gallons of ethanol to equal the mileage you get with gasoline, that equals $6 a gallon that is mandated by the Congress of the United States for a product that not only is driving up the price of gasoline but is polluting our air, as identified by the Air Resources Board of California.

Now, if you are a constituent that is making money off of corn-based oil, that's fine. But do not allow anyone who claims to be an environmentalist and claims to be a consumer in California to support the corn-based ethanol proposal here.

I do not agree with Mr. McCain of Arizona very often, but, as quoted by Mr. McCain all the way back in 2003, he stated that the corn-based ethanol mandate that Congress is perpetuating on the United States is highway robbery perpetuated on the American people by Congress.

Please let's eliminate the corn-based mandate, save the environment, and save the consumers.

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