Issue Position: Energy

Issue Position

A New Direction for Energy Security: The New Direction Congress has finalized the Energy Independence and Security Act, an historic bill to make America more energy independent, respond to the global warming crisis, and grow our economy. Record high prices for oil--with prices at the pump more than double the price in 2001, and heating oil costs triple that of 2001--add urgency. The legislation:

* Strengthens national security, by lessening our dependence on foreign oil * Reduces global warming

* Lowers energy costs for consumers

* Creates hundreds of thousands of new jobs and strengthens our economy

This agreement builds on the New Direction for Energy Independence, National Security, and Consumer Protection Act (H.R. 3221, and H.R. 2776), which includes wide-ranging solutions from 10 House committees. With passage of this measure, we are cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 by up to 24 percent of what the U.S. needs to do to help save the planet, saving American families $700 to $1,000 a year at the pump, and slashing U.S. oil consumption by more than 4 million barrels per day by 2030.

Opposition of Senate Republicans and a veto threat by the White House forced several provisions of the House bill to be dropped - the renewable electricity standard and tax incentives for clean renewable and alternative energy paid for by repealing subsidies for Big Oil. The 110th Congress will build on the progress of this historic energy bill by continuing the fight for incentives for clean renewable and alternative energy, and moving forward with major global warming legislation.

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