[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 112 (Friday, August 3, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1560]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              SECURING AMERICA'S FUTURE ENERGY ACT OF 2001

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                    HON. JUANITA MILLENDER-McDONALD

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, August 1, 2001

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill. (H.R. 4) to 
     enhance energy conservation, research and development and to 
     provide for security and diversity in the energy supply for 
     the American people, and for other purposes.

  Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to H.R. 4, 
the Securing America's Future Energy Act of 2001. This bill grants 
expensive new subsidies to virtually every energy sector without 
offsets and does little to promote much cheaper energy efficiency and 
renewable energy technologies. This bill will cost $34 billion and 
because no offsets are provided it will threaten the Medicare and 
Social Security trust funds.
  This bill does nothing to relieve the suffering of the citizens of 
California. California's crisis is a precursor of what is to come for 
the rest of America as we fail to produce an energy policy which is 
balanced. California consumers paid $7 billion for electricity in 1999. 
In 2000, that number went up to record highs and Californians paid $27 
billion for electricity. It is expected that the number could go up to 
$70 billion in 2001. I am concerned that minority business owners in my 
district will suffer greatly due to the high costs of energy.
  I am dismayed that this bill will do nothing to stop the outrageous 
price gouging by out-of-state energy producers to California consumers. 
In fact, the administration and my Republican colleagues are unwilling 
to carry out its obligation to ensure that energy prices are just and 
reasonable, claiming that uncontrolled market prices are needed in 
order to increase the energy supply. That's like saying that we must 
pay dairy farmers $300/gallon to produce milk.
  This bill will not provide one more kilowatt to California this 
summer, prevent one less minute of blackouts, or keep one less dollar 
from being transferred from California into the hands of the energy 
producers.
  I am concerned about the environmental ramifications of this energy 
bill. We must look into renewable energy programs, rather than reverse 
a decade old U.S. policy against reprocessing commercial nuclear fuel 
and allow for new drilling on public lands without royalty payments. 
This bill fails to guarantee a significant increase in clean, renewable 
energy or energy efficient products. For example, the bill fails to 
require significant improvement in the efficiency of air conditioners, 
and fails to address peak power demands of other major appliances.
  Moreover, we must amend this bill because it would allow for drilling 
in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Instead, we must utilize 
current American sources that are already open for drilling. After 6 
years of energy inaction on behalf of the Republican Congress, this 
bill follows the same old path: cast blame, insist on extreme 
antienvironmental proposals, and declare themselves powerless in 
offering relief to Americans facing record-breaking energy price 
increases.
  I believe in a balanced, comprehensive and cost-efficient energy 
program that meets America's energy needs through increased production 
and efficiency that puts the interests of consumers first and protects 
the environment. This omnibus energy package does little to address 
America's future energy needs and I want to urge my colleagues to vote 
no on H.R. 4.

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