[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 103 (Tuesday, July 12, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1297]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     BETTER USE OF LIGHT BULBS ACT

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                               speech of

                           HON. STEVE ISRAEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 11, 2011

  Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to oppose the BULB Act. Plain and 
simple--this bill will hurt our competitive advantage against China.
  As my colleagues on the other side of the aisle bring this bill to 
the floor to take a step backwards & repeal light bulb efficiency, 
China gets it and they're leaping forward. This year China is spending 
over a billion dollars to make energy efficient lighting. China knows 
they can save consumers money while putting their country on track to 
create the largest LED industry in the world.
  With efficiency requirements, we can compete. We can create American 
jobs making better light bulbs that meet the new standards. More than 
2,000 jobs have already been created at factories around the country. 
In the U.S., there are between 12,000 to 14,000 jobs related to 
lighting.
  I do not want to send those jobs to China by handing over the next 
generation lighting industry to them. The light bulb has been a symbol 
of American ingenuity since the late 1800s. When Thomas Edison invented 
the light bulb, it revolutionized our economy and electricity around 
the world. If America wants to lead, we need to become more efficient. 
That is the way of the future. Already, the new standards are prompting 
manufacturers to build new plants and create jobs making more energy 
efficient lighting here. In my Congressional District, Veeco has done 
just that. Veeco's employee count on Long Island has doubled from 150-
300 from 2009 to 2011.
  Lighting manufacturers have invested millions of dollars to develop 
new lighting technologies and improve old ones so they're 30 percent 
more efficient by the end of this year.
  Efficiency isn't not about saving energy. It's about saving money and 
giving consumers a solid return on their investment. The BULB Act does 
nothing to save our constituents money.
  Current standards would save the average American family $100 on 
their electricity bills. I know my constituents want that $100 in their 
pockets.
  That is why I urge my colleagues to join me in opposing this bill to 
help save money and energy while supporting U.S. manufacturing.

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