Issue Position: Energy and Environment

Issue Position

Energy independence and combating climate change is a flagship issue. Energy independence is a moral, environmental, health, economic and national security issue. We must support innovation in clean energy and efficiency technologies, in doing so we can reduce transit fares and help Americans struggling with energy prices.

Experts have been clear: Wall Street speculators are artificially driving up the price at the pump and causing pain to millions of American consumers. This year alone, gas prices have increased by 62 cents a gallon. Higher gas prices negative effects on our economy at large.

By repealing the tax breaks to multi-national oil companies, we can reduce the deficit and invest in clean energy jobs. Renewable energy like wind and solar, will reduce our dependence on foreign oil, lower energy costs and create millions of jobs that cannot be shipped overseas.

Profits for the biggest oil companies were at record-breaking levels in the last few years and Congress must take action to ease the pain at the pump. Comprehensive legislation that protects the pocketbooks of America's taxpayers and consumers is critical as many continue to suffer from tough economic times.

Preserving our planet is just as critical to ensuring a safe and bright future for future generations. With the future of our country, and indeed our entire planet, possibly at stake, now is time to turn our collective concerns about climate change into concerted action. We must work to prevent any future damage to our environment and world by developing new energy technologies and replacing fossil fuels with clean and renewable energy sources.

As we celebrated the 40th anniversary of the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act, ensuring public health and sustaining a federal agency to regulate global warming emissions is crucial to the future of our nation and preservation of our planet. I have vigorously opposed bills that would weaken our nation's environmental protections which would endanger the health of all Americans. We must protect our nation's precious wetlands and coastlines by investing in technologies that will reduce air pollution and protect the natural habitat for any species along those shorelines.

Source