Fortenberry Speaks at Historic "Spontaneous Session": America Needs a Bold New Energy Vision
Congressman Jeff Fortenberry today addressed a historic "spontaneous session" of the House of Representatives and renewed his call for a bold new energy vision.
Earlier this week, Fortenberry introduced a resolution to prohibit Congress from adjourning for the month of August without approving a comprehensive energy policy. House Resolution 1391 quickly attracted 71 co-sponsors, but the House adjourned late this morning without addressing any comprehensive energy proposals. After the last gavel fell, the lights were extinguished, and the microphones and cameras were turned off, Fortenberry participated with a group of colleagues before a large public gallery audience in a spontaneous discussion of the urgency in advancing a new national energy policy.
The gathering quickly grew, with up to 50 members returning to the floor over the course of more than five hours to voice their support for real debate on energy.
"The American people need a bold, new energy vision," Fortenberry said. "I introduced a resolution this week to keep us here working because we need a comprehensive energy policy to achieve energy independence while building a bridge to a more sustainable energy future. We can increase use of domestic resources in an environmentally responsible way and must also fully integrate conservation, new technologies, and a variety of renewable sources such as wind, solar, geothermal, and biofuels into our energy strategy.
"This is an issue that Congress must address - not five weeks from now, not five months from now, but now. Congress must continue its work."