Kanjorski Supports Energy Bill To Reduce Dependence On Foreign Oil

Statement

Kanjorski Supports Energy Bill to Reduce Dependence on Foreign Oil

Congressman Paul E. Kanjorski (PA-11) provided the following statement explaining his vote for H.R. 2454, American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009. The House passed the bill today by a vote of 219-212.

"By no means is this energy bill perfect, but today, refusing to act was not an option. We need to begin the process of decreasing greenhouse gas emissions, creating clean energy jobs in America, and reducing our dependence on foreign oil. Change in our energy economy will not happen overnight, but it is clear that in this situation, the positives outweigh the negatives. The University of Massachusetts estimates that 1.7 million jobs will be created by transitioning to a clean energy economy.

"I deeply understand the real concerns regarding the additional costs for consumers and businesses that are essential to the economy, especially during these difficult economic times, and I hope that the bill which emerges in consultation with the Senate will further address these concerns. I believe that the small incremental costs associated with this bill are a small sacrifice that we can all make to ensure the well being of this country in the long-term. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that subsidies for low-income families included in the bill will result in annual savings in energy costs of about $40. Furthermore, according to a recent study released by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, as a result of energy efficiency measures in this legislation, all consumers' utility bills will decrease about 7 percent in 2020.

"I commend President Obama for taking on this ambitious effort to move our country toward greater energy self-sufficiency and environmental sustainability, and I believe this bill is a reasonable first step toward reaching a goal that I think we all share."

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