[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 86 (Friday, May 23, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1058]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             RENEWABLE ENERGY AND JOB CREATION ACT OF 2008

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 21, 2008

  Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 
6049, the Renewable Energy and Job Creation Act. This legislation will 
extend and expand tax incentives for renewable energy and create 
hundreds of thousands of green jobs, along with providing critical tax 
relief to families as they face rising gas and food costs.
  With soaring gas prices hitting our constituents hard in the pocket 
book, we need to reduce our dependence on foreign oil, while protecting 
the environment. H.R. 6049 does this by increasing production of 
renewable fuels and renewable electricity, and encouraging greater 
energy efficiency. Specifically, the 6-year extension of the investment 
tax credit for solar energy, the 3-year extension of the production tax 
credit for biomass-, geothermal-, and hydropower-generated energy, and 
the 1-year extension of the production tax credit for energy derived 
from wind set us on the right path for decreasing our dependence on 
foreign oil.
  This bill would also provide critical tax relief to families at a 
time when they are paying more at the pump and in the grocery store. 
When passed, this bill would provide this relief through the ability to 
deduct State and local sales tax, tuition and other education expenses 
including the out-of-pocket expenses by teachers, the deduction of 
property taxes for non-itemizers and probably most importantly, relief 
for more than 12 million children through an expansion of the 
refundable child taxpayers earning $8,500 a year. These are commonsense 
items directed towards those who are in the most need of relief. It is 
no secret that the cost of living is increasing and wages are stagnant. 
These provisions will help the average American family receive some 
relief.
  Madam Speaker, I am pleased to support the Renewable Energy and Job 
Creation Act and I urge my colleagues to do the same.

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