[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 60 (Saturday, April 12, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E776]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       ENERGY POLICY ACT OF 2003

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. JOE KNOLLENBERG

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 10, 2003

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 6) to 
     enhance and development, to provide for security and 
     diversity in the energy supply for the American people, and 
     for other purposes:

  Mr. KNOLLENBERG. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to this amendment 
that will do little more than punish the auto industry for the sin of 
building cars that people want to buy.
  This amendment will force Americans to drive smaller cars that are 
less safe than what we drive now. Smaller cars mean more traffic 
fatalities, as noted by the National Highway Traffic Safety 
Administration and confirmed by the National Academy of Sciences. 
Safety should not be sacrificed.
  The auto industry is already moving on its own to increase fuel 
economy through the development and use of advance technologies such as 
hybrids and fuel cells. But they are doing so in a way that will 
produce cars that are safe and that people will actually want to buy. 
That is what we should be supporting.
  I urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment and support the 
American people's right to drive safer cars and the ability of the auto 
industry to finish the job it is already doing.

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