English Renews Call for Congress to Enact Strong, Bipartisan Energy Plan

Statement

English Renews Call for Congress to Enact Strong, Bipartisan Energy Plan

Speaks to Regional Employers at Energy 08' Conference

Highlighting the need for a comprehensive energy strategy, U.S. Rep. Phil English (R-Pa.) today renewed his call for Congress to enact a strong, bipartisan energy plan that stresses conservation, more competitive energy markets and new technologies to encourage the use of renewable energy sources.

"Our nation is facing an energy crisis that demands not only a strong and immediate response, but ambitious and innovative legislation," said English, a senior member on the House Ways and Means Committee. "The time has come for Congress to give Americans a strong, bipartisan energy plan that will meet the demands of the 21st century."

Today, English participated in the Manufacturer & Business Association's Energy 08 Conference, which brought together regional employers to learn more about energy policy and how to strategically position their companies to deal with the current energy crisis. During the conference, English noted that the economic downturn coupled with volatile energy prices has had an adverse impact on businesses and families across the country. He said Congress should act swiftly to advance a commonsense energy plan that will reign in prices at the pump in the short-term and establish a long-term plan to transition from a fossil fuel economy to one based on renewable and alternative energy sources.

"American employers and working families are already feeling the financial pinch of the slowing economy, we can no longer expect them to continue to bear the brunt of continued unstable energy price hikes," said English. "In order to address the energy challenges that we are experiencing today, we must fully utilize all viable options of existing energy sources so we can reduce our dependence on foreign oil and promote conservation and development of these resources right here at home."

This Congress, English introduced H.R. 2652, the Generating Renewable Energy and Encouraging Novel (GREEN) Technologies Act, which includes a number of provisions that would foster environmentally-sound development and use of energy sources. Importantly for Pennsylvania, this bill promotes clean coal technology and incentives for renewable or eternal sources of energy such as wind, biofuel, ethanol and solar. A number of tax incentives are included in the GREEN Technologies Act to further stimulate the economy, create jobs and better meet consumer needs. -more--

"By using the tax code to promote energy diversification we can lower energy prices for Americans across the country and help community businesses make the transition to cleaner production," English said. "This approach has the potential for bipartisan support and creates the opportunity to make our economy competitive, create more jobs and at the same time, benefit American consumers."

Although the GREEN Technologies Act tackles the long-term needs of the American energy supply, English stressed the need for Congress to address the short-term needs and advance policies that will bring more energy to market. English has introduced a second energy bill, the Affordable Fuel for Consumers Act, legislation that will provide immediate price relief for consumers at the pump and increase domestic supplies of traditional energy in the market in the near-term.

"While any long-term energy plan must include a vastly higher proportion of renewable and eternal energy sources compared with traditional fuels, the fact remains that traditional sources will be part of America's energy portfolio in the near-term," English said. "As we continue to debate the components of a long-term federal energy strategy, we must be vigilant in advancing policies that will ensure greater stability and control in combating rapid increases in prices."

A strong advocate of a comprehensive energy plan to help stem high energy costs and promote increases in domestic supplies, English has also encouraged drilling in the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) or the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) in an environmentally-friendly manner and fought to bring legislation to the House floor that will expand refinery production in America. In addition, he voted to raise mandatory fuel efficiency standards for cars and trucks, supported the establishment of a federal ban on gasoline price gouging and has been a long time champion of the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Act Program (LIHEAP).

"Although there is no silver bullet that will automatically fix to the energy crisis we are experiencing today, there are a variety of energy policy initiatives that can certainly be part of the solution," English concluded. "Time is of the essence and we must act now help us to regain control of our energy future."

To learn more about English's energy initiatives visit his website at: www.house.gov/english

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