[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 100 (Tuesday, July 7, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1652]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             AMERICAN CLEAN ENERGY AND SECURITY ACT OF 2009

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. ROSA L. DeLAURO

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, June 26, 2009

  Ms. DeLAURO. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the American Clean 
Energy and Security Act--a historic step forward to revitalize our 
economy and get America running on clean energy.
  There is a global race underway to develop clean energy technologies. 
We have the innovation and manpower to take the lead--but we will not 
get there unless we muster the political will to keep our nation 
competitive. This bill makes sure that everyone benefits from the 
millions of jobs this bill will create through a Green Construction 
Demo Project and additional Green Jobs Act funding to train workers 
with the new skills they will need to repower and rebuild this nation.
  This bill also makes the U.S. more energy independent by investing in 
energy efficiency, including for consumers of natural gas, home heating 
oil, and propane. We know that comprehensive energy efficiency programs 
can help households save money on energy. I thank the Chairman for 
providing states with greater flexibility to use allowances under the 
SEED Program to expand existing cost-effective efficiency programs. And 
for including a provision I cosponsored with my colleague Rush Holt, to 
jumpstart important research on consumer behavior, energy conservation 
and efficiency. Moving forward, I hope we will strengthen the combined 
energy efficiency and renewable energy standard, to maximize efficiency 
and investments in clean technologies like wind, solar, geothermal, and 
biomass.
  Madam Speaker, this bill is a significant step towards a better 
future, and a major break from the past eight years of ignoring our 
energy crisis. For the first time, it would create a system of clean 
energy incentives designed to jumpstart the economy and reduce the 
carbon pollution that causes global warming.
  Make no mistake--the effects of global warming are visible here and 
now. In my home state of Connecticut, global warming is a threat to our 
health, our wetlands, our lobster fisheries, and our economy. This bill 
is our chance to mitigate that threat--a chance that will not come 
again soon.
  Future generations are counting on us to do the right thing today--to 
set our country on a path towards a cleaner, more prosperous future. I 
urge my colleagues to support this bill.

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