[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 6]
[House]
[Page 7331]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                            THE ENERGY BILL

  (Ms. LEE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. LEE. Madam Speaker, today we will vote on the energy bill, 
written by and for the energy industry in secret meetings with Vice 
President Cheney.
  Tomorrow is Earth Day, and the theme this year is ``Protect our 
children and our future.'' Is this how the Republican Congress 
envisions celebrating Earth Day and protecting our children and the 
future?
  This bill will pollute our air at a time when childhood asthma rates 
are growing. It exempts MBTE producers from poisoning our water and 
keeps us dependent on foreign oil. This environmentally irresponsible 
bill offers over $37 billion in tax breaks and subsidies to oil, coal, 
and nuclear power industries.
  The energy industry does not need this money. In 2004 the profits of 
the top 10 oil and gas companies jumped by more than 30 percent.
  The Republican Congress and the administration continue to prioritize 
short-term corporate profits over long-term health and safety of our 
children and our earth. We should be protecting our children, our 
future, and this planet. This energy bill destroys our environment. It 
is a danger to public health. It forces consumers to pay more for gas 
and keeps us dependent on foreign oil.

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