Kuhl Introduces Legislation to Forbid Congress From Adjourning Without Enacting Comprehensive Energy Legislation

Press Release

U.S. Representative John R. "Randy" Kuhl, Jr. (R-Hammondsport) today introduced legislation to prevent Congress from adjourning without enacting comprehensive energy legislation. The resolution calls on the 110th Congress to continue working on behalf of Americans until comprehensive energy legislation has been passed.

"American families and small businesses around this nation are struggling because the cost of energy. And this is only going to get worse in the coming winter months, especially in Western New York, where home heating costs are also expected to soar," said Rep. Kuhl. "Just like House Republicans came back to Washington D.C. when Speaker Pelosi adjourned Congress for a five week vacation in August, this legislation makes it loud and clear that we do not want to go home without enacting a comprehensive energy solution. Our country needs a comprehensive, all of the above energy plan that includes improving conservation and efficiency, drilling in America, increasing the supply of American-made energy, bringing online additional refineries, and developing all viable alternative or renewable fuel sources and technologies."

The resolution demands that the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), not adjourn until comprehensive energy legislation has been enacted into law that —

(1) opens the Outer Continental Shelf, the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, and oil shale reserves to environmentally prudent exploration and extraction;
(2) extends expiring renewable energy incentives
(3) encourages the streamlined approval of new refining capacity and nuclear power facilities;
(4) encourages advanced research and development of clean coal, coal-to-liquid, and carbon sequestration technologies; and
(5) minimizes drawn out legal challenges that unreasonably delay or prevent actual domestic energy production.

In July, Congressman Kuhl joined his Republican colleagues in introducing the American Energy Act, H.R. 6566, which increases the supply of American-made energy, improves conservation and efficiency, and promotes renewable and alternative energy technologies. The American Energy Act is a comprehensive piece of legislation that will boost supplies of all forms of energy produced in the U.S. to reduce our dependence on foreign sources of energy. Secondly, and equally as important, H.R. 6566 will promote new, clean, and reliable sources of energy. This is going to be achieved by increasing the supply of American-made energy, improving energy efficiency, and encouraging investment in groundbreaking research in advanced alternative and renewable energy technologies.

In addition, Congressman Kuhl is also a cosponsor of the bipartisan National Conservation, Environment, and Energy Independence Act (H.R. 6709). This legislation, co-authored by Reps. John Peterson (R-PA) and Neil Abercrombie (D-HI) and drafted by the bipartisan Energy Working Group, expands American energy production, encourages cleaner energy production, and dedicates new funding - without tax hikes - for conservation and energy research programs.

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