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

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chairman, we know what is possible for our Nation, if we choose to move seriously and quickly down the path to energy independence. We know what this choice means.

Energy independence means demanding more efficiency and smarter technology for our cars, homes, businesses, and industry. Energy independence means investing in our communities and plugging their resources and workforce into vibrant, expanding markets.

It means developing new technologies that create new jobs through America's economic backbone: our innovation industries. If we want to make opportunity real for more Americans--if we want to keep our nation strong even as our new economy continues to change--there is no better way to do it, than by investing in a new energy future.

This bill--The New Direction for Energy Independence, National Security, and Consumer Protection Act--makes investments across the spectrum, to promote renewable energy, grow our economy, create new jobs, lower energy prices, and begin to address global warming. It is time to reduce our reliance on foreign oil--an addiction that threatens our environment, our economy, and our national security.

It is an ambitious initiative, to be sure, but nothing less will secure our nation's energy future. It is time to stop talking about energy independence, and start moving toward it.

We can do that today with this legislation, by providing a historic investment in homegrown biofuels and giving incentives for plug-in hybrid vehicles rather than Hummers. We can promote and improve the use of truly efficient products from mass transit and fleets of cars to lighting and buildings, and we are finally doing our part, to make the federal government a leader in reducing energy usage and greenhouse gas emissions.

But this is not just about specific provisions from today's important legislation. It is also a recognition that by embracing tomorrow's great challenges we create great opportunity. That when it comes to addressing those energy challenges--from the soaring price of gas to rising temperatures around the world to the dangerous actions of hostile regimes abroad--we need the right leadership with clear direction and bold vision. That there is nothing America cannot achieve if we put our minds to it, harnessing our future to our own spirit of ingenuity and innovation.

Source