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

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

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Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment.

The Acting CHAIRMAN. The gentlewoman from Florida is recognized for 5 minutes.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Chairman, what concerns me most about the amendment is its requirement for a report by the Secretary that includes a strategy to help developing countries to adapt to climate change, and I quote, ``including the provision of United States assistance to developing countries and an identification of existing funding sources, and a description of new funding sources that will be required specifically for such purposes.''

Mr. Chairman, it's one thing to have the executive branch agencies compose a strategy, but it's quite another to encourage, if not require, such agencies to find new ways to justify further increasing U.S. foreign assistance to these countries.

This strategy would come after the section of the bill, section 2202, which already calls for $200 million every year from the year 2008 to the year 2012 to be allocated for U.S. assistance and programs in developing countries that ``promote clean and efficient energy technologies.''

I believe that there is a positive intent behind this amendment, and I commend my colleague, Ms. Solis, from California for offering it. But it would be a better proposal if it did not have a requirement that the report from the Secretary of State include a strategy that basically instructs the Secretary to tell us how to spend more money.

So I hope that our colleagues would reject this amendment.

Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

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