[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.
____________________