[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 188 (Monday, December 10, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2531]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              ENERGY INDEPENDENCE AND SECURITY ACT OF 2007

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                               speech of

                             HON. DAVE CAMP

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 6, 2007

  Mr. CAMP of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, this bill is a failure on the most 
basic points: It fails to drive down prices at the gas pumps; it fails 
to lower home heating bills; and it fails to reduce our reliance on 
foreign crude oil. Worse yet, this bill actually increases our reliance 
on oil from the Middle East and increases taxes by $20 billion on 
American manufacturers.
  Had this bill been crafted in a bipartisan fashion, instead of in a 
secret marathon session that produced a bill only this morning, we 
might have a bill that actually helps families and businesses dealing 
with record energy costs, and we might have a bill that actually helps 
us transition to more environmentally friendly fuels.
  Unfortunately, what we do have--in addition to a new $20 billion tax 
bill--are Federal mandates that States cannot possibly comply with, a 
slush fund worth billions of dollars that lacks any oversight, and more 
advisory committees and task forces.
  I am particularly concerned about this $3 billion in new government 
spending to subsidize projects that have nothing to do with lowering 
energy prices. Instead of lowering prices for consumers, this bill 
allows the Beverly Hills police department to buy hybrid Lexuses and a 
fake rainforest to be built in Iowa. In my view, this $3 billion should 
be spent on helping Americans better afford their high home heating 
costs.
  As a Member from Michigan, I would be remiss if I did not talk about 
the CAFE standards in this bill. To suggest this bill is the best 
America's automakers could get says much about this Congress. If 
President Coolidge's quote that ``The business of America is business'' 
expressed overconfidence in the American economy, this bill expresses 
at best a disdain for American automobile manufacturers and at worst an 
outright hostility to the work we do in Michigan.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote against this bill.

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