[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 173 (Thursday, November 8, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S14188-S14189]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                CORPORATE AVERAGE FUEL ECONOMY STANDARDS

  Mr. FEINGOLD. Mr. President, as Congress continues to work on 
comprehensive energy legislation, I want to discuss the importance to 
my constituents of enacting strong yet achievable corporate average 
fuel economy standards.
  The final energy package needs to increase vehicle fuel economy 
requirements, but it should do so without undercutting hardworking 
families in Wisconsin and across the country. Between manufacturing, 
dealerships, and the automotive parts industry, there are upwards of 
50,000 auto jobs in Wisconsin. Having grown up in Janesville--home to a 
General Motors plant--I understand how important the auto industry is 
to the State's economy and its communities. For far too long, under 
different administrations and different Congresses, the U.S. has 
pursued trade and other policies that have undermined our country's 
manufacturing base. Now, it is time to pay attention to the concerns of 
America's workers.
  We can have strong and achievable CAFE standards. However, this will 
require several reasonable revisions to the Energy bill that the Senate 
passed. For starters, separate standards for cars and trucks need to be 
maintained. I recently organized a coalition of senators to write the 
Senate's Democratic leadership and urge it to maintain the distinction 
in current law between standards for cars and trucks. Passenger cars 
and light-duty trucks are inherently different. They should have

[[Page S14189]]

separate fuel economy standards. Unfortunately the Senate's CAFE 
language is unclear in this regard, providing little certainty on how 
the Department of Transportation will interpret this provision. 
Congress must provide the necessary certainty.
  In order to ensure the Energy bill takes the right approach on CAFE 
standards, I have also joined colleagues in calling for a formal House-
Senate conference to meet to draft the final bill. We should not 
abandon the normal legislative process on such an important issue and 
resort to informal, backroom dealmaking. I understand that there are 
still objections to convening a conference and I hope that those will 
be resolved soon.
  Since the Senate considered the Energy bill, I have worked to ensure 
that the final version includes a CAFE standard that supports working 
families in Janesville and elsewhere. When the Senate considered the 
bill earlier this year, I supported the reasonable Pryor-Bond-Levin 
amendment to increase CAFE standards, and I was disappointed that it 
was never brought to a vote. I continue to work with them and other 
colleagues to make sure that Congress strikes the right balance on this 
important issue.
  As the Congress works to finalize its comprehensive energy 
legislation, I urge my colleagues to help set strong yet achievable 
vehicle fuel economy requirements. We can increase CAFE standards while 
also ensuring that my hometown of Janesville--and hometowns like it 
across the country--still has the family-supporting jobs that are vital 
to the strength of the community.


            National Radiation Protection Professionals Week

  Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, I wish to honor the members of the 
radiation protection profession and to recognize that the Conference of 
Radiation Control Program Directors and the Health Physics Society have 
resolved that November 4-10, 2007, should be named National Radiation 
Protection Professionals Week.
  Since Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen's discovery of x-rays on November 8, 
1895, the use of radiation has become vital in the Nation's health 
care, defense, security, energy, and industrial programs. However, if 
misused, this vital technology can harm and injure those using it or 
benefiting from it. Members of the radiation protection profession make 
it their life's work to allow government, medicine, academia, and 
industry to safely use radiation. By providing the necessary 
leadership, these professionals protect people from radiation hazards 
thus enabling society to reap benefits of this remarkable technology. I 
encourage all citizens to recognize the valuable resource represented 
by their professional scientific organizations, such as the Conference 
of Radiation Control Program Directors, the Health Physics, the 
National Registry of Radiation Protection Technologies, and the 
American Association of Physicists in Medicine. I deeply appreciate the 
commitment of these professionals and professional organization, and 
their contribution to our Nation and the world. I invite my colleagues 
to join me in celebrating National Radiation Protection Professionals 
Week.
  I ask that both of their resolutions be printed in the Record at this 
time.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                Resolution of the Health Physics Society

       Whereas, Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen discovered X-rays on 
     November 8, 1895; and
       Whereas, radiation is a useful and necessary part of our 
     modern world; and
       Whereas, radiation exposure can be harmful to people; and
       Whereas, Radiation Protection Professionals work with 
     government, industry, medical, educational, and private 
     sources to bring the benefits of radiation to the public 
     while minimizing the hazards of radiation exposure; and
       Whereas, the Health Physics Society Board of Directors 
     supports efforts to encourage all citizens to recognize the 
     importance of Radiation Protection Professionals who provide 
     necessary leadership in protecting the public from the 
     hazards associated with the use of radiation: now be it
       Resolved, That November 4-10, 2007 is National Radiation 
     Protection Professionals Week.
       That the week-long observance is dedicated to recognizing 
     Radiation Protection Professionals for their contributions to 
     public safety.
                                  ____


  Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors, Inc., Resolution

       Whereas, Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen discovered X-rays on 
     November 8, 1895; and
       Whereas, radiation is a useful and necessary part of our 
     modern world; and
       Whereas, radiation exposure can be harmful to people; and
       Whereas, Radiation Protection Professionals work with 
     government, industry, medical, educational, and private 
     sources to bring the benefits of radiation to the public 
     while minimizing the hazards of radiation exposure; and
       Whereas, the Conference of Radiation Control Program 
     Directors, Inc. supports efforts to encourage all citizens to 
     recognize the importance of Radiation Protection 
     Professionals who provide necessary leadership in protecting 
     the public from the hazards associated with the use of 
     radiation: Now be it
       Resolved, That November 4-10 is National Radiation 
     Protection Professionals Week.
       That the week-long observance is dedicated to recognizing 
     Radiation Protection Professionals for their contributions to 
     public safety.

                          ____________________