[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 77 (Tuesday, May 19, 2009)]
[House]
[Page H5772]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            NATIONAL ENERGY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Foxx) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Ms. FOXX. As the summer months quickly approach and families start to 
plan vacations, our country continues to struggle with high energy 
costs. That is why the Democrats' cap-and-trade, or better known as 
cap-and-tax, energy plan is an irresponsible proposal that will do more 
harm than good. The simple truth behind the Democrats' energy plan is 
that it raises taxes, kills jobs, and will lead to more government 
intrusion in our lives.
  The Democrats' energy plan is really a $624 billion national energy 
tax that will hit nearly every American family. This new national 
energy tax will be paid by anyone who turns on a light switch or plugs 
in an appliance.
  With Democrats still hiding many of the important details of their 
energy plan, a study that looked at a similar proposal estimated that 
the impact will be roughly $3,100 every American household will have to 
pay to the Federal Government.
  Also disappointing is the fact that the Democrats' national energy 
tax will hit the poor the hardest. Experts agree that lower-income 
individuals spend a greater share of their income on energy 
consumption. So while every American will be paying more for energy, 
low-income households already living on the edge of desperation will be 
hurt even more.
  The truth is President Obama is aware of the impact his energy plan 
will have on American families. While still a candidate for President, 
then-Senator Obama said that under his cap-and-tax plan, utility rates 
would necessarily skyrocket and said that those costs would be passed 
along to consumers.
  The impact of this national energy tax will not only be seen in home 
utility bills or at the pump, but various estimates suggest that 
anywhere from 1.8 million to 7 million Americans could lose their jobs 
as well.
  Though the President is promoting green jobs that may be created by 
his cap-and-tax plan, any new jobs created will not come close to 
compensating for those lost to this reckless energy policy.
  We have no greater example of the devastation the cap-and-tax system 
can have on an economy than Spain. After years of promoting green jobs, 
Spain has the highest unemployment rate in Europe, standing at a 
whopping 17.5 percent.

                              {time}  1530

  Cap-and-tax has sought to be an environmentally friendly plan. The 
truth is that it will relocate manufacturing plants overseas to 
countries with far less stringent environmental regulations, in turn 
trading pollution to another part of the world.
  Republicans are for clean air, clean water and are committed to 
solving our energy crisis. Republicans believe there is a better way to 
achieve energy independence without destroying our economy and killing 
jobs.

                          ____________________