[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 124 (Tuesday, July 31, 2007)]
[House]
[Page H9188]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1015
                      THE LIGHT BULB ENERGY POLICY

  (Mr. POE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr POE. Mr. Speaker, oh, how we talk and pontificate about making the 
United States independent from foreign energy. But still little has 
been done. The new energy bill does not promote energy, but punishes 
energy use. For example, new energy legislation regulates the type of 
light bulbs Americans use.
  Some in the House want to go after the U.S. oil companies and punish 
them by taxing them more. Of course, more taxes will simply be passed 
on to us, the consumers, and will not increase energy, but decrease it.
  You see, when you tax something, you get less of it. More taxes will 
encourage U.S. oil companies and refiners just to move someplace else 
where there are fewer taxes and regulations. Some want to mandate and 
subsidize corn-based ethanol, which not only drives gasoline prices up, 
but raises the price of food at the same time.
  A real energy bill would allow safe drilling for oil and natural gas 
off our shores and in ANWR. A real energy bill would advance nuclear 
power. A real energy bill would work with all types of U.S. energy 
companies and not make them out to be the enemies.
  A real energy bill would do more than require us to use certain light 
bulbs that, by the way, are only made in China.
  And that's just the way it is.

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