[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 65 (Wednesday, April 23, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E704]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                               EARTH DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. JOHN CONYERS, JR.

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 22, 2008

  Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, as Americans mark Earth Day, they can also 
mark the new direction Congress has begun to reverse the failed energy 
policies of the past, committing instead to clean, and renewable energy 
for the future. It may have taken the president almost 8 years to 
acknowledge global warming, but this is a problem that Congress did not 
wait to address.
  Congress passed the historic and bipartisan Energy Independence and 
Security Act of 2007 to begin to reduce American dependence on foreign 
oil, respond to the global warming crisis, grow our economy, and lower 
energy costs. The Act will save 5.3 billion metric tons in energy-
related CO2 emissions from 2008-2030 and reduce oil 
consumption by 2.4 million barrels a day--almost a 25 percent reduction 
over today's usage.
  The Congress has taken the steps the current Administration has 
failed to take. It pleases me that on this Earth Day in 2008 we can 
acknowledge and celebrate the positive direction we are taking in 
addressing our energy use, climate change, and its impact on our 
economy.

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