AMERICAN CLEAN ENERGY AND SECURITY ACT OF 2009 -- (House of Representatives - June 26, 2009)
Mrs. BIGGERT. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the American Clean Energy and Security Act.
In my home State of Illinois, we depend on nuclear, coal, and natural gas for our electricity. Because this bill discriminates against these energy sources, Illinois will be hit especially hard. Gas prices could rise by 77 cents a gallon and diesel by 88 cents a gallon. This is part of an entirely arbitrary penalty on oil and gas that is passed straight on to the consumer.
H.R. 2454 does little to incentivize new nuclear production, despite the fact that nuclear power is safe and emissions free, and what little it does is grossly inadequate concerning the overall goal of this bill.
I am deeply concerned also that there is no framework for an international agreement on climate change in this bill. In the absence of such framework, and in agreement from developing nations, my district can count on losing thousands of jobs to countries like India and China if this legislation is enacted.
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