American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009

Floor Speech

AMERICAN CLEAN ENERGY AND SECURITY ACT OF 2009 -- (House of Representatives - June 26, 2009)

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Mr. STEARNS. Madam Speaker, you know, this is a defining moment. And ``where were you when this legislation came on the floor'' is going to be something that you're going to remember.

As the ranking member has indicated, the lobbying on this by Vice President Gore and the President and all of the people has been tremendous, and there is a possibility that they still don't have the votes. One of the reasons is there is not a fairness factor here.

China adds more CO2 to the atmosphere each year than any other nation in the world. However, they have consistently said they reject any binding international cap on such emissions and claim the right to continue to increase its release of greenhouse gases while at the same time we are going to pass--attempt to pass this legislation.

My colleagues, without equivalent efforts by China and India to limit greenhouse gas emissions, the United States stands to lose many hundreds of thousands of jobs to these countries that will profit from this bill today.

The proponents of this legislation say we should make unilateral reductions, unilateral disarmament, which will in turn impose moral pressure on other countries. I find it hard to believe that China and India will reduce their economic growth and idle their people because they are willing to adopt a cap-and-trade. The cap-and-trade is flawed. China and India are not going to go forward. Any meaningful effort to achieve long-term, sustainable reductions in global greenhouse gas emissions depend on the development and deployment of new energy technologies, we all agree, we must include clean coal technologies, carbon capture and sequestration, and advanced nuclear power generations. I had an amendment that was designed to do this. It was not allowed.

The rapid development demonstration of widespread deployment of such technologies are of paramount importance in any reasonable and any effective effort to address CO2 reductions. The massive new regulatory burdens imposed by this cap-and-trade scheme will invariably cut the growth and innovation in this country and we will lose jobs. Let's foster new technology. Let's not pass this bill.

Last night, I offered two substantive amendments to improve this flawed legislation. One of my amendments would have allowed states that have existing nuclear power plants to more easily meet the Renewable Electricity Standard by excluding all electricity generated by nuclear power from a retail electric suppliers bases amount. My other amendment would have eliminated the home Energy Star labeling program that will further reduce property values at a time when many homeowners have seen their equity and retirement savings vanish. Unfortunately, both of these amendments were struck down by the Rules Committee along with 221 other amendments.

Quoting from yesterday's Wall Street Journal editorial, Americans should know that those Members who vote for this climate bill are voting for what is likely to be the biggest tax in American history.''

In fact this cap and tax scheme could cost families up to $3,100 more per year and result in real GDP losses of $9.6 trillion over the life of the bill, especially if we do it alone.

China adds more CO2 to the atmosphere each year than any other nation in the world, however they have consistently rejected any binding international cap on such emissions and claims the right to continue to increase its release of greenhouse gases. Without equivalent efforts by China and India to limit greenhouse gas emissions, the U.S. stands to lose many hundreds of thousands of jobs to these countries that will profit from this bill.

The proponents of this legislation say we should make unilateral reductions, which will in turn impose moral pressure on other countries to reduce their emissions. I find it hard to believe that other nations would follow the United States in reducing economic growth and idling millions of workers. Although cap and trade is flawed, there is much that we can do to reduce carbon emissions and our dependence on imported energy sources.

Any meaningful effort to achieve long-term, sustainable reductions in global greenhouse gas emissions will depend on the development and deployment of new energy technologies, including advanced clean coal technologies, carbon capture and sequestration and advanced nuclear power generators. The rapid development, demonstration and widespread deployment of such technologies are of paramount importance in any reasoned and effective effort to address carbon dioxide reductions.

The massive new regulatory burdens imposed by this cap and trade tax scheme will inevitably undercut the growth and innovation we desperately need to build lasting and effective solutions. Fostering new technology and scientific research across all sectors of the economy, not capping our economy and trading U.S. jobs, will guard our nations security and increase our energy independence.

I encourage all my colleagues to join me in strong opposition to this legislation.

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