New Direction For Energy Independence, National Security, And Consumer Protection Act

Floor Speech

NEW DIRECTION FOR ENERGY INDEPENDENCE, NATIONAL SECURITY, AND CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT -- (House of Representatives - August 04, 2007)

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. HALL of Texas. I just want to simply say that at a time when we import 60 percent of our oil from OPEC countries and others, we need to be encouraging domestic production of fossil fuels. We have it. We don't have anywhere else to turn.

I just think energy is such a national security issue, not a partisan political issue. We have to move beyond partisan rhetoric and pass a sensible energy legislation that would promote all sources of energy, increases our domestic capacity, reduce the cost of energy, promote technologies to make fossil fuels including coal, clean coal cleaner and more efficient.

* [Begin Insert]

This week Democratic House leaders have been scrambling to get energy legislation to the floor before Congress recesses for August, yet the bill they are hoping to pass today doesn't create any new energy and doesn't help meet America's energy needs.

At a time when we import 60 percent of our oil from OPEC countries, we need to be encouraging domestic production of fossil fuels. The Democrats' energy bill doesn't expand our domestic energy supply one drop of oil.

Our economy depends on fossil fuels, yet opponents of oil and gas continue to push legislation to raise taxes on our domestic energy producers and refiners, making American energy more expensive, and making us even more dependent on foreign, unstable regimes.

Bio-fuels and other alternative energy sources have great potential, but are not ready to replace fossil fuels on a large scale in our domestic energy portfolio. As ranking member of the Science and Technology Committee, I believe that one day the investments we make in research and development into alternative energy will make a big difference, but right now Americans need clean, affordable, and abundant energy--and I'm afraid the bill before us today does not advance this goal.

Comprehensive energy solutions must include all sources of energy. Not only should we invest in research and development for technologies that promote renewable and alternative sources of energy, but we should also invest in technologies that make existing energy sources cleaner, more affordable and more efficient. At the same time, we must continue to support the domestic oil and gas industry in order to reduce our dependence on foreign oil. We cannot turn our backs on the fossil fuels that have made our country what it is today.

Energy is a national security issue--not a partisan political issue. We must move beyond partisan rhetoric and pass sensible energy legislation that promotes all sources of energy, increases our domestic capacity, reduces the cost of energy, and promotes technologies to make fossil fuels, including coal, cleaner and more efficient.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source