American Clean Energy And Security Act Of 2009

Floor Speech

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Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I have two young children, so the environment is very important to me, but I question the benefits of this bill and strongly oppose its devastating cost.

This bill won't impact the natural cycle of the Earth's temperature. It will cost Texas families dearly in bigger utility bills, higher energy costs, and losing nearly 200,000 jobs, many of them in southeast Texas in our energy refining, paper, steel, and ag industries. And with China and India not likely to go along, this will have no environmental benefits at all.

The protectionist trade measures added in secret at the 11th hour are so rigid, they undermine our ability to reach an international agreement on carbon emissions, which is the best way to protect American jobs here. And they are written so poorly, it will be difficult to defend the measure against trade challenges by our competitors. And I should point out, that WTO report referenced earlier today doesn't even deal with the border measures that are under consideration in this bill.

Instead of rushing this 1,200-page bill through Congress with no time to read it, a better solution is for both parties to get serious about increasing cleaner-burning fuel, like nuclear and natural gas, accelerating research.

That makes more sense, creates jobs and produces real environmental results without the devastating cost to families and businesses from cap and trade.

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