[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 24]
[House]
[Pages 32483-32496]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              ENERGY INDEPENDENCE AND SECURITY ACT OF 2007

  Mr. BARTON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, to close debate on the minority 
side, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished minority leader from the 
Buckeye State of Ohio, the Honorable John Boehner.
  Mr. BOEHNER. I appreciate my colleague for yielding, and Ohio State 
will be in the national championship on January 7. And we look forward 
to dealing with our colleagues from Louisiana.
  Mr. Speaker, my colleagues, there has been a lot said on the floor 
today about the national energy crisis that we face. We know that it 
jeopardizes our national security, we know that it jeopardizes our own 
economy and American jobs here at home, and this is an issue that the 
American people are very concerned about. We have got rising gasoline 
prices. We have got home heating oil prices and gas prices for this 
winter that are really going to hurt the American families' budget. So 
we have a crisis that deserves our response and our collective efforts. 
But what we have here today is a bill that was written in secret, 
written by a handful of people on the majority side in each Chamber 
that we didn't see until last night. Nobody knows what is in this bill 
because nobody has had time to read it.
  One thing that is in here that I think is something that certainly 
will be useful is the CAFE agreement that Mr. Dingell and others 
reached that will give us more efficient cars in the future and done in 
a practical way to help domestic manufacturers and the consumers in 
America who are going to have to pay for this.
  But we know what is not in it. There is nothing in here that is going 
to lower gasoline prices in America. There is nothing in here that is 
going to help American families deal with the heating costs they are 
going to have this winter. There is nothing here in this bill that is 
going to increase domestic production of energy. And at the end of the 
day, if we are very serious about solving the energy crisis in America, 
we have got to deal with conservation. We have got to deal with 
alternative sources of fuel. We have to deal with increased production 
here in the United States, and my goodness, why won't we talk about 
nuclear energy on the floor of the House of Representatives of the 
United States when we know that it is the cleanest source of fuel for 
our future? But it is not in here.
  Now, I did find some other things that were in this bill. Earmarks. 
Oh, yeah, we have to have earmarks. If we are going to move a piece of 
legislation, we have to take care of a few people. So I found $161 
million in here for the Plum Creek Timber Company's Montana land 
holdings for native fish habitat conservation. I didn't know that fish 
lived in trees. We have $2 billion earmark in here from our good friend 
from New York City to help New York develop a rail line from the JFK

[[Page 32484]]

Airport to Lower Manhattan. That's something I am sure my constituents 
want to pay for.
  One of the better issues in here, though, is the $3 billion slush 
fund, $3 billion of our money that we are going to give to cities and 
counties around America for green projects, except the definition is so 
wide that they can do almost anything, like some city can decide they 
are going to finance Al Gore's speaking tour to promote his book, ``An 
Inconvenient Truth,'' or maybe Beverly Hills will replace their police 
cars with Lexus hybrids. Certainly it would count if you look at the 
bill. We could be buying some energy-efficient hybrid snowmobiles for 
Aspen or Snowmass or any of those places. All that would be allowed 
under this provision. Or we can even use some of this money to finish 
the rain forest that we are building in Iowa. This is not where the 
American people want their money to go to.
  Although this is not an earmark, what I really liked in the bill was 
the $240 tax credit that we are going to provide every 15 months for 
people who regularly ride their bike to work for the purchase, repair 
or storage of their bicycle. Now, amongst us, I know there is one of my 
colleagues that would probably benefit from this. I hope he is going to 
recuse himself when we vote. This is not going to solve America's 
energy problem. I think that we ought to get serious as a country about 
energy independence and saving our future and the future for our kids.
  But while we are here dealing with this bill that doesn't frankly do 
much and will not solve our problem, think about what we haven't done. 
You know Christmas is right around the corner for some of you that 
haven't realized it. The majority leader said yesterday that we would 
be out by next Friday. The gentleman from Maryland yesterday, the 
majority leader, said we would be out by December 14. Now, first, I 
wanted to say ``Ha-Ha-Ha,'' but then I began to realize we are close to 
Christmas so I thought, well, ``Ho-Ho-Ho'' might be more appropriate. 
Now there is not a chance that that is going to happen.
  We haven't dealt with the AMT problem. We are about to put 23 million 
Americans under the alternative minimum tax that have never been there 
before. We have not done anything to fund our troops or our veterans 
that are about to run out of money. Men and women in the military, in 
Afghanistan and in Iraq, are out there fighting to protect the American 
people. We have not dealt with that funding. We have not dealt with 11 
of the 12 appropriation bills that should have been done by October 
but, you know, we were going to get them done by Thanksgiving, and here 
it is, December 6, my wife's birthday, Ray LaHood's birthday, December 
6, and we still haven't done 11 of the 12 appropriations bills. Yet 
none of this is finished at a time when we ought to be getting serious 
about getting our work done.
  So I would ask my colleagues, let's get serious about energy 
independence. Let's get serious about what we need to do as a nation to 
solve the future for our kids and theirs. And until we get serious, I 
think we should vote ``no'' on this bill.
  But I would implore my colleagues to also realize that our 
constituents are looking for us, our families are going to be looking 
for us soon, and it is time for us to wrap up our work but get our work 
finished, because the American people expect it.

                              {time}  1500

  Mr. BOUCHER. Mr. Speaker, to close debate on our side, I am pleased 
now to recognize for 1 minute the very distinguished Speaker of the 
House of Representatives, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi).
  Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, this is a very important day for our 
country, a day in which this Congress can declare itself a Congress for 
the future, a Congress for America's children.
  Earlier today, some of you saw me reference this baseball signed by 
Bobby Thomson: ``The shot heard round the world,'' October 3, 1951, a 
historic day in baseball. When he signed this baseball, he referenced a 
phrase used by Ralph Waldo Emerson referencing the shot fired at 
Concord, which began the Revolutionary War, the fight for American 
independence. If Bobby Thomson could reference a shot heard round the 
world, we should indeed be able to do it today. This vote on this 
legislation will be a shot heard round the world for energy 
independence for America.
  I want to thank some of the people who made this possible. As many of 
you know, at the beginning of this Congress, our Chairs of the 
appropriate committees were tasked to prepare legislation to be ready 
to be introduced by the Fourth of July, our Independence Day. They did 
so, and on June 30, in preparation for the Fourth of July weekend, we 
introduced our legislation.
  I want to begin by thanking Mr. Dingell for his exceptional 
leadership as Chair of the Energy and Commerce Committee. This bill is 
about America's national security. Mr. Dingell has always been about 
that. He has dedicated his life, starting in World War II, in his 
public service for our country. Thank you, Mr. Dingell.
  Another great veteran in this arena, Mr. Rangel, a veteran of the 
Korean War, was an important part of this legislation with the pay-fors 
from the Ways and Means Committee. Thank you, Mr. Rangel.
  Earlier you heard from Mr. Oberstar and the important work he is 
doing with the greening of America's Federal buildings and many other 
resources. Thank you, Mr. Oberstar. Mr. Waxman of Oversight and 
Government reform; Mr. Miller of Education and Labor, where we are 
having our green jobs initiative; Mr. Rahall from Natural Resources, 
making an important contribution to this legislation; Mr. Lantos from 
Foreign Affairs; Mr. Gordon from Science, the Science and Technology 
Committee has been central to this legislation; Mr. Peterson from the 
Agriculture Committee. America's farmers will fuel America's 
independence. We will send our energy dollars to the Midwest, not the 
Middle East. Congresswoman Velazquez from Small Business, where small 
businesses will be the incubator of this new economy. Thank you, 
Chairwoman Velazquez. And Congressman Markey of the Select Committee, 
thank you also for your tremendous leadership for over 30 years on this 
issue.
  I mention all of my colleagues, these chairmen, not only to salute 
them, but to say they started a process over a series of months where 
practically every member of these 11 committees of Congress had an 
opportunity, Democrats and Republicans alike, to weigh in on the 
initial legislation, which was introduced in time for the Fourth of 
July, as promised, and which was passed by this Congress in the first 
week of August; and it is the follow-up on that legislation that we are 
voting on today.
  It is a part of our first 100 hours. As we near the end of this 
session of Congress, we can harken back to that first 100 hours, our 
Six for '06. Our first piece of legislation was about how we protect 
America, passing the 9/11 Commission recommendations. I am so pleased 
that that was passed with strong bipartisan support in this House and 
was signed by the President.
  The minimum wage was passed with strong bipartisan support in this 
House of Representatives and was signed by the President.
  Making college affordable, the biggest package for college 
affordability since the GI Bill of Rights in 1944, passed by the 
Congress, signed into law by the President.
  The biggest legislation for ethics reform in the history of the 
Congress, bipartisan majority, strong overwhelming support, and signed 
into law.
  In the course of time, passing Mr. Gordon's bill, our commitment to 
competitiveness to keep America number one, the Innovation Agenda, the 
COMPETES Act, overwhelming majority, bipartisan majority, signed into 
law by the President.
  I mention all of these because they have bearing on what we are doing 
today. It is about our national security, it is about jobs and the 
economic security of our country. It is about the environment, and 
therefore it is a health issue. It is a moral issue. With

[[Page 32485]]

all that I have said, that is why we have scientists and evangelicals, 
we have business and labor, we have the environmental community, all 
strongly supporting this legislation.
  And here are some of the reasons why. I will give you their words. 
Over 20 generals have signed a letter saying that we have to move in 
this direction in terms of reversing global warming. But, very 
specifically, the other day we heard from Admiral Denny McGinn, and he 
said this: ``Our dependence on foreign oil is a clear and present 
danger to Americans. Your vote for tough fuel economy standards is a 
vote for increasing our safety and our well-being.'' This is a national 
security issue.
  It is an issue that relates to our environment and therefore the 
health of our children. That is why the Pew Charitable Trusts for Fuel 
Efficiency wrote: ``If the House and Senate finally approve this and 
the President signs it, they will have done more for consumers at the 
pump than any Congress or administration since the 1970s.'' They were 
referencing also the fact that the consumers will save $700 to $1,000 
as a result of this bill, per year. And over a period of time until 
2020, they will save $22 billion. That is why the Consumer Federation 
of America is supporting this bill. It is about American jobs.
  The president of the Alliance of American Automobile Manufacturers 
wrote: ``We believe this tough, national fuel economy bill will be good 
for both consumers and energy security. We support its passage.''
  I could submit for the record a long list of representatives of the 
business and labor community who are supporting this legislation.
  And labor, the legislative director of the UAW, Alan Reuther, says: 
``We believe that this historic measure will provide substantial energy 
security and environmental benefits for our Nation while protecting and 
expanding jobs for our workers.''
  The list goes on. National security, jobs, the environment, the 
health of our children, and the future of this planet, as well as the 
consumer benefits. It is, again, a historic day because it has been so 
long since we have come to the place where we are, as has been said, 
over 30 years since we have addressed this issue in this substantial 
way in the Congress of the United States.
  The point of this is, are we about the past or are we about the 
future? I hope that we can have strong bipartisan support for this 
legislation. We were able to accomplish in this 12-month period, as Mr. 
Emanuel said, in this 12-month period, what was not done in 32 years in 
the Congress of the United States.
  So, my friends, I ask you to think about this vote and take great 
pride when you cast a ``yes'' vote. Many of you are far away from your 
legacy, but when that day comes, I hope you will consider this day a 
part of that legacy when you made history in this Congress of the 
United States. And not only did you make history; you made progress for 
the American people. They are watching to see what we do. This 
legislation is as immediate to them as the price at the pump that they 
face when they fill up their tanks. It is as immediate to them as 
heating their homes. It is as global as preserving this planet.
  If you believe, as do I, and I think all of us do, that this is God's 
creation and we have a moral responsibility to preserve it, that is why 
we have strong support from the religious community, including the 
evangelical community, then I hope you will take this act of faith 
today to make history and to make progress for the American people, 
especially to declare this the Children's Congress.
  Thank you, my colleagues. I urge a ``yes'' vote.
  Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Speaker, I support H.R. 6 and am excited Congress is 
considering legislation that finally recognizes the energy demand 
course we are on is simply unsustainable if we do not take control of 
our over-consumption.
  The fact is, with only 3 percent of the world's oil but 25 percent of 
its use, the U.S. can never drill our way to energy security. I am glad 
to be supporting policy that reduces the demand for oil by emphasizing 
conservation. Only by creating a forward-looking energy policy that 
reduces demand for energy, and in particular oil, will we be able to 
lower gas prices.
  I am pleased this bill requires a fleetwide corporate average fuel 
economy standards for cars, sport utility vehicles, work trucks, and 
medium and heavy duty trucks of 35 miles per gallon for cars and SUVs 
by 2020. In my view, this is the least we can do. While I would prefer 
to attain a higher standard sooner, I am pleased we are taking the 
first congressionally mandated increase since 1975.
  I believe raising CAFE standards is one of the most significant steps 
we can take as a nation to reduce our dependence on foreign oil, 
improve our national security, and protect our environment and economy. 
Even a modest increase in CAFE standards would save more oil than would 
be produced by drilling in the Arctic National Refuge.
  I am also very grateful that the legislation will build a market for 
renewable energy and alternative fuels. Requiring at least 15 percent 
of electricity be produced from clean, renewable sources of energy like 
wind and solar by 2020 seems common-sense to me, and the 36 billion 
gallons of biofuels, such as ethanol and biodiesel, to be blended with 
gasoline by 2022 should make us less dependent on the Middle East for 
oil.
  I also believe the extension of important tax credits for renewable 
energy production including wind, solar, geothermal, and biomass 
technologies will continue advances being made in these fields.
  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, last November, the American people voted 
for change. They were frustrated with the direction our nation was 
taking and felt that we needed to set a new course. I am so proud to 
stand before you to say to my colleagues and most importantly the 
American people, that today we begin to chart that new course on energy 
policy.
  For the first time in over 30 years, the House of Representatives 
will pass a significant energy bill--one that reduces our dependence on 
foreign oil. Our addiction to oil has compromised our national security 
and causes tremendous damage to our environment.
  While there are many things to be proud about in this bill, there are 
two that I would like to highlight. The first is the new fuel economy 
standard. Today, the average price of gasoline in the United States is 
well above three dollars. This puts a tremendous strain on the American 
people, who in many instances have no option aside from driving to get 
to work or bring their children to school. Today we pass a bill that 
raises fuel economy standards to 35 miles per gallon by 2020 for new 
cars. This provision alone will save American families between $700 and 
$1000 per year, by making their cars run more efficiently. It will also 
reduce oil consumption by 1.1 million gallons per day in 2020, 
approximately half of what we import from the Persian Gulf. This will 
reduce our dependence on oil which comes from the Middle East and 
politically unstable nations.
  In addition to raising CAFE standards, the Energy Independence and 
Security Act also makes a commitment to integrate renewable energy 
sources into our supply. This commitment comes at precisely the right 
moment for America. We are at the precipice of developing new 
technology that will allow our nation to produce alternative energy 
more efficiently. In order for this development to be realized, 
however, we must guarantee a demand for the product. That is why the 
inclusion of a renewable portfolio standard is so important. It creates 
the demand necessary to spur development. The bill requires utility 
companies to generate 15 percent of electricity from renewable sources 
by 2020. This will mean major investment in products made throughout 
the country, like ethanol in my home state, wind farms in California, 
and solar harnessing technology in Florida that will create new jobs 
and facilitate economic growth.
  As important as the Energy Independence and Security Act is, it is 
just the first step and the road in front of us is long. We need an 
energy program that matches the scale of the threat we face. We will 
continue to build on the momentum we are creating and I look forward to 
the day when I can stand before you and say that the United States is 
completely energy independent.
  In conclusion I would like to thank the Speaker and Chairman Dingell 
for their leadership on this bill throughout the process. We would not 
be here today without them.
  Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of The 
Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. This agreement with the 
Senate builds on the New Direction for Energy Independence, National 
Security, and Consumer Protection Act passed this summer. The ambitious 
legislation before us today,

[[Page 32486]]

which includes wide-ranging solutions from 10 House committees, invests 
in the future of America and puts our nation on a path towards energy 
independence. It will strengthen national security, lower energy costs, 
grow our economy, create new jobs, and begin to reduce the threat of 
global warming.
  With this legislation, Congress is taking groundbreaking steps to 
address the crisis of climate change. The bill will increase the 
efficiency of our vehicles. It makes an historic commitment to 
American-grown biofuels and requires that 15 percent of our electricity 
come from renewable sources. The legislation strengthens energy 
efficiency for a wide range of products, appliances, lighting and 
buildings. It also repeals tax breaks for big oil companies, and 
invests that money in clean renewable energy and new American 
technologies. Not only will these measures reduce our dependence on 
foreign oil and grow our economy, they will also save consumers 
billions of dollars.
  The Energy Independence and Security Act includes several provisions 
that will strengthen our national security by decreasing our dependence 
on foreign oil. I am particularly pleased about the compromise that was 
reached on fuel economy standards, raising standards for new cars and 
trucks to 35 miles per gallon by 2020. The bill ensures that this fuel 
economy standard will be reached, while offering flexibility to 
automakers and ensuring that we keep American manufacturing jobs and 
continue domestic production of smaller vehicles. I want to applaud 
Speaker Pelosi and Chairman Dingell for reaching an agreement that is 
supported by both environmentalists and the automobile industry.
  The legislation before us today also reduces our dependence on 
foreign oil. The initiative includes a historic commitment to American 
biofuels that will fuel our cars and trucks. It includes critical 
environmental safeguards to ensure that the growth of homegrown fuels 
helps to reduce carbon emissions and does not degrade water or air 
quality or harm our lands and public health. The plan establishes a 
plug-in hybrid/electric vehicle tax credit for individuals and 
encourages the domestic development and production of advanced 
technology vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles. It also includes tax 
provisions totaling approximately $21 billion--which includes the 
repeal of about $13 billion in tax subsidies for Big Oil.
  The Energy Independence and Security Act will help lower energy costs 
by promoting cleaner energy, greater efficiency, and smarter 
technology. It requires utility companies to generate 15 percent of 
electricity from renewable sources--such as wind power, biomass, wave, 
tidal, geothermal and solar--by 2020. The bill includes landmark energy 
efficiency provisions that will save consumers and businesses hundreds 
of billions of dollars on energy costs by requiring more energy 
efficient appliances, such as dishwashers, clothes washers, 
refrigerators and freezers. It requires improved commercial and federal 
building energy efficiency and assists consumers in improving the 
efficiency of their homes. The bill also strengthens and extends 
existing renewable energy tax credits, including solar, wind, biomass, 
geothermal, hydro, landfill gas and trash combustion, while creating 
new incentives for the use and production of renewable energy, as well 
as supporting research on solar, geothermal, and marine renewable 
energy.
  The energy bill will help create new American jobs and reduce the 
threat of global warming. The landmark fuel efficiency standard, 
renewable electricity standard and energy efficiency provisions will 
not only save consumers and businesses money, but will also 
significantly reduce carbon dioxide emissions. In addition, this 
package creates an Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Worker 
Training Program to train a quality workforce for ``green'' collar 
jobs. These investments in renewable energy could create 3 million 
green jobs over 10 years. The bill helps small businesses lead the way 
in renewable energy by increasing loan limits for purchasing energy 
efficient technologies. It rewards entrepreneurship in the energy 
sector by increasing investment in small firms developing renewable 
energy solutions. This initiative also takes aggressive steps on carbon 
capture and sequestration to come up with a cleaner way to use coal.
  For too long, our country has lagged behind the rest of the 
industrialized world in recognizing and taking action to address the 
climate change crisis. Global warming endangers all of us, but 
threatens to have the most devastating impact on the poorest and the 
most vulnerable. Our nation is the richest in the world and one of the 
largest contributors to global warming, yet, until today, it has not 
made any substantial efforts towards addressing the problem. I am proud 
to join with my colleagues as we at long last put America on the path 
to becoming part of the solution.
  Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, with ongoing high oil and gasoline prices 
and the conference on global climate change taking place in Bali, the 
time for making investments to secure our energy future is now.
  H.R. 6 is a strong first step toward reducing our dependence on 
fossil fuels, which is a real security concern, addressing climate 
change, and protecting public health, while saving consumers money on 
energy bills and providing business opportunities in the energy market, 
which will stimulate economic growth and create new jobs. But we must 
not stop short of addressing climate change. Scientists say that if we 
are to have a good chance of avoiding potentially catastrophic 
repercussions of climate change, we must reduce emissions 60 percent to 
80 percent by 2050. Through cap-and-trade, based on a sound energy 
policy foundation, Congress can deliver the kind of reform business and 
industry need to grow the economy, stabilize the climate, and create 
more diverse and secure sources of energy. I sincerely hope the Speaker 
keeps her commitment to address this critical issue.
  The Energy Independence and Security Act, includes many provisions 
that I have previously supported in earlier iterations of the 
legislation in January and August. It increases the fuel economy for 
automobiles to 35 miles per gallon by 2020, requires that 15 percent of 
our electricity come from renewable energy sources by 2020, includes 
important energy efficiency provisions for buildings and appliances, a 
renewable fuels standard with safeguards under the Clean Air Act with 
specific incentives for cellulosic biofuels, and continues and makes 
new investments in renewable energy production through the repeal of 
subsidies for the oil and gas industry.
  For the first time in 30 years, the bill ensures that our automobiles 
go farther on a tank of gas by raising fuel efficiency, or CAFE, to 35 
miles per gallon by 2020, which is both aggressive and something 
manufacturers feel they can achieve. This is an historic achievement. 
With close to $100/barrel oil, $3.00 a gallon gasoline, and a nearly 
one billion dollar deficit in our balance of trade from oil imports 
makes increasing our fuel economy so critical. I have long believed 
that reasonable CAFE standards are both achievable and practical and 
would have a positive impact on fuel consumption in this country. While 
the issue of raising CAFE standards is not new and the proposals for 
how it should be achieved have differed greatly, I am pleased to 
support the agreement Congress has reached.
  Another key measure is the requirement of a 15 percent national 
renewable electricity standard, which will help lower energy costs, 
create new jobs and help diversifying our energy portfolio with clean, 
renewable sources, like wind and solar energy. This standard will 
hopefully begin to ease pressure on natural gas prices and help reduce 
carbon emissions quickly. While I am a cosponsor of legislation to 
create a 20 percent national renewable electricity standard, 
complimenting Delaware's recently adopted standard and effort to 
harness offshore wind energy, this compromise will go a long way in 
helping to keep our air and water clean and in our effort to address 
climate change.
  Finally, I strongly support the key tax provisions, such as the 4-
year extension of production tax credit for qualified renewable energy, 
like wind, and credits for residential efficiency measures, that will 
help us make strong investments in clean, renewable energy sources, and 
help address affordability and availability.
  Mr. WYNN. Mr. Speaker, today, we are doing something great for 
America.
  This bill makes major strides towards addressing our country's 
growing energy demands. And it makes great progress towards a brighter 
and more renewable future for America's children.
  Energy is what drives the American economy. It is what keeps the 
lights on. But our use of fossil fuels is warming the planet, and may 
have catastrophic effects on our children and grandchildren.
  First, we must conserve energy. For the first time since 1975, 
Congress is acting to require higher fuel economy for new vehicles. 
This will save American consumers money, and make American car 
manufacturers more competitive in the global marketplace.
  The bill also requires that we begin to generate a significant amount 
of our electricity--15 percent by 2020--from renewable sources like the 
sun, wind, and water. The significance of this mandate is that it will 
encourage the development of a greener economy by creating incentives 
for the advancement of alternative energy sources.


            Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants

  Energy conservation must be a natural partnership involving Federal, 
State and local government.

[[Page 32487]]

  This bill contains a provision based on legislation that I introduced 
to this House back in May as H.R. 2447, the Energy and Environment 
Block Grant Act. This provision creates an Energy Efficiency and 
Conservation Block Grant program that will help take on the problem of 
global warming at the local and community level.
  The bill authorizes $10 billion in local assistance to cities, 
counties, and States to continue working to reduce energy usage, 
increase our efficiencies, and conserve valuable energy resources.
  EECB Grants will give local governments funding and assistance to: 
implement energy conservation programs for homeowners and businesses; 
reduce vehicle usage through smart planning, traffic flow improvements, 
and telecommuting; increase material conservation; and locally generate 
energy with renewable energy technology like solar, wind, and fuel 
cells.
  The program will: help create and grow new energy-efficient 
communities; foster a nationwide market for renewable and efficient 
technologies; and achieve significant energy savings across this 
country.


                    Healthy High-Performance Schools

  I am also proud to support the bill's provisions on Healthy High-
Performance Schools. On any weekday, 20 percent of America is in a 
school building. Yet, schools are often sited next to abandoned 
landfills or industrial facilities.
  According to a 2002 five-state survey, more than 1,100 public schools 
were built within a half-mile of a toxic waste site. Lead in paint and 
drinking water, toxic chemical and pesticide use, polluted indoor air, 
radon, asbestos, and mold are also factors that impact the health of 
our children, teachers and staff in schools environments.
  According to the EPA, studies show that one-half of our nation's 
schools have problems linked to indoor air quality. Asthma is the 
leading cause of school absenteeism due to chronic illness and it is 
also the leading occupational disease of teachers.
  The Energy Security and Savings Act's provisions on Healthy High-
Performance Schools amend the Toxics Substances Control Act to promote 
the development of healthy school environments that are free of 
environmental hazards and establish a grant program for states to 
design healthier, more energy efficient and environmentally safe 
facilities.
  I know this bill has opposition on many fronts. But I believe it is 
an important step for our country to take towards a better and more 
sustainable future.
  I urge my colleagues to support this important bill.
  Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, this is the first forward-looking energy bill 
to come before Congress in a generation and it is sorely needed because 
our nation and our planet are at risk because of our dependence on 
fossil fuel. We are doing nothing less than asserting America's 
leadership in solving our own and the world's most significant energy 
and environmental problems.
  Today, our national security is at risk because the U.S. is 
increasingly beholden to foreign governments for the energy that fuels 
our economy, and greenhouse gas emissions are contributing to greater 
global insecurity due to changes in the climate and their 
repercussions. Consumers see the effects of dependence in their 
pocketbooks each time they fill up. Our interests in the Middle East 
are dictated by our need for oil. Throughout the world we see the 
environmental impact of the dependence on fossil fuel on our 
environment ... whether it's an oil spill or more intense hurricanes or 
droughts.
  Today we're taking a historic step in changing this dynamic.
  The auto fuel efficiency provisions in this bill reduce our oil 
consumption by more than 4 million barrels per day by 2030--more than 
twice the amount of oil we currently import from the Persian Gulf.
  The bill will also reduce global warming pollution by the equivalent 
of 300 coal-fired power plants. By 2030 we will cut emissions by up to 
35 percent of what scientific experts say we must achieve to prevent 
climate catastrophe.
  Many said it would be impossible to reach agreement on raising fuel 
economy standards and requirements for renewable energy, but this bill 
delivers.
  It raises fuel economy standards for cars and trucks to an average of 
35 miles per gallon by 2020, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by the 
equivalent of 28 million cars, and saving consumers up to $1,000 once 
it is fully implemented.
  The bill also requires 15% of the electricity produced in the U.S. to 
be generated from renewable resources, and it sets goals for the use of 
renewable fuels--36 million gallons by 2022.
  These are enormous steps, and combined with provisions on energy 
efficiency, including a provision I authored on computer data center 
efficiency, this bill will reshape energy production and consumption. 
It will foster the development of new energy development that could 
make the U.S. an exporter of energy technology instead of an importer 
of oil and gas.
  This is the bill I've been waiting 15 years to vote for and I'm 
thrilled the moment has arrived.
  Mr. HERGER. Mr. Speaker, when our constituents tell us to ``do 
something'' about gas prices, they don't mean ``Make them higher.'' 
This bill has some attractive elements, but they're overwhelmingly 
weighed down by bad policy, creative accounting and tax increases, none 
of which gets close to fixing the energy problem we face.
  Record high gas prices are due to growing demand, constricted supply, 
and over-reliance on oil from unstable regions of the world. Yet this 
bill penalizes U.S. producers.
  Mr. Speaker, families in Northern California won't see reduced prices 
at the pump if Congress raises billions in new taxes on those who 
discover, refine and deliver our gas.
  I urge a ``no'' vote.
  Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, America must develop a 21st century energy 
security policy that will reduce energy costs, increase energy 
independence, encourage energy conservation, strengthen the economy and 
protect the environment, including steps to cut carbon emissions and 
address the impacts of climate change. I believe that policy must also 
include a commitment to invest in clean, renewable energy technology, 
the responsible exploration of domestic energy sources, an increase in 
fuel efficiency standards, and the research necessary to develop the 
fuels of the future.
  Today the House considers a bill that is over 1,000 pages, with only 
12 hours of notice and only 1 hour of debate. I found it interesting 
that while the bill was not introduced and made available to members 
until 8:30 last night, K Street lobbyists provided copies to 
congressional staff 3 hours earlier.
  In the limited time we have had to read the bill, I have found some 
provisions that I could support. The bill has provisions to invest in 
research and development of a whole host of renewable resources, 
promote energy efficiency by the Federal Government, promote energy 
conservation programs and investment by the private sector in renewable 
energy generation. If we are ever to become energy independent, those 
are the kinds of investment we must make.
  The bill also has provisions to establish grants to promote public 
transportation and expand use of alternative fuels, and extend tax 
credits for energy efficient projects in commercial buildings, 
production of renewable electricity and investments in solar energy and 
fuel cells. Earlier this year I voted for the Udall/Platts amendment to 
require electricity companies to ensure that 15 percent of their 
electricity is generated by renewable and alternative sources by the 
year 2020. Renewable energy development is vital to our national 
security, our economic prosperity and the health of our environment.
  Another provision I support and have cosponsored separate legislation 
will increase automobile fuel economy standards, also called CAFE, 
Corporate Average Fuel Economy.
  But with all these positive steps promoting energy investment, why 
add provisions that will penalize domestic oil and gas production? 
America is at the mercy of countries like Saudi Arabia and Venezuela 
and even China whose governments control oil resources around the 
world. If we are ever to wean our Nation from foreign sources of 
energy, we must tap our own energy sources. Congress had an opportunity 
through this bill to find ways to partner with America's oil and gas 
producers to provide incentives to encourage alternative energy use and 
development and to stop the rising costs of gas and oil. Instead, the 
legislation adds billions in increased taxes which will hurt energy 
consumers and threaten U.S. jobs. I don't believe any fair-minded 
person would say that the way to lower prices at the pump is by raising 
taxes on the companies that find, refine and transport gasoline.
  That is no way to promote energy independence. The tax provisions not 
only increase taxes for domestic drilling, but also include a massive 
tax increase on U.S. companies producing energy abroad. This will have 
the effect of placing U.S.-based companies at a disadvantage by 
reducing their ability to compete for investments in foreign energy 
projects. This is unacceptable when China, India and Russia are working 
night and day to corner the market on many of the world's energy 
resources. In fact, Cuba has sold leases for offshore drilling in the 
Gulf of Mexico to China, India, Canada and Spain.

[[Page 32488]]

  Additionally, I was shocked to see that provisions to promote 
telework in the Federal Government were removed from the final bill. 
According to Environmental Defense, 6 billion gallons of oil can be 
saved if commuters telework just 1 day each week. Most importantly, 
these telework provisions did not cost a penny.
  Just a few weeks ago the Texas Transportation Institute at Texas A&M 
University released its annual traffic congestion study which found 
that congestion creates a $78 billion annual drain on the U.S. economy 
due to 4.2 million lost hours of productivity and 2.9 billion gallons 
of wasted gas. That's not even considering the air pollutants caused by 
idling vehicles around the nation. Why did we not consider savings from 
the telecommuting provisions included in the energy bill passed earlier 
this year as an offset instead of new taxes on the backs of the 
American people?
  I also have learned that this massive bill includes a $2 billion 
earmark for the City of New York. I am sure there are other special 
interest projects that have been creatively air dropped into the 1,061 
pages of this bill. With so little time to cull through those pages, 
though, no one but the sponsors will know before we vote. No wonder the 
American people have such low regard for Congress.
  To truly create an effective energy policy, we must have an open and 
transparent process for all members and in fact all Americans working 
together. We cannot achieve energy security by increasing taxes on oil 
and gas producers, which will cripple our economy and impact the 
pocketbook of every single American. We cannot create energy policy 
through wheeling and dealing or thousand page bills released just hours 
before a vote.
  Finding bipartisan consensus in developing energy policy is critical 
for our Nation's future economy, prosperity and security. Republicans 
and Democrats in the House and Senate must work together so that 
America can truly start on the path to energy independence that 
delivers energy security and lower costs for American consumers in a 
way that also promotes environmental stewardship.
  We can do better. We must do better.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise as a 10-term member of the United 
States House of Representatives, co-author of the DRIVE Act, Dependence 
Reduction through Innovation in Vehicles and Energy Act, H.R. 670, and 
co-chair of the Oil and National Security Caucus.
  For too long, the United States has been too dependent on foreign 
oil. We consume nearly 21 million barrels per day, and our appetite is 
growing. This reliance on a single resource is particularly troubling 
because much of that oil comes from nations that are unstable, 
unfriendly, or downright hostile.
  Despite our economic dominance, we continue to give our money to 
foreign nations because we are addicted to foreign oil. Despite our 
military might, we remain vulnerable because we are addicted to foreign 
oil.
  Mr. Speaker, it is time for that to change. It is time for bold 
leadership to move us toward energy independence.
  Energy independence is a goal that other countries are already 
achieving. Brazil, a nation that once relied on foreign countries to 
import 80 percent of its crude oil, will be entirely self-sufficient in 
a few years thanks to its investment in biofuels.
  I believe we can become self-sufficient by replacing our consumption 
of foreign oil with domestic production of biofuels; first from corn, 
then from cellulosic feedstock and other biomass--including 
agricultural and municipal waste.
  I am proud of the legislation that this legislative body has produced 
today. This bill will strengthen national security, lower energy costs, 
grow our economy and create new jobs, and begin to reduce global 
warming.
  This legislation takes groundbreaking steps to increase the 
efficiency of our vehicles, making an historic commitment to American 
grown biofuels, requiring that 15 percent of our electricity come from 
renewable sources, and strengthening energy efficiency for a wide range 
of products, appliances, lighting and buildings to reduce energy costs 
to consumers.
  It mandates increased automotive fuel efficiency standards to 35 
miles per gallon by the year 2020, the first such change since 1975.
  It repeals tax breaks for profit-rich oil companies, and invests that 
money in clean renewable energy and new American technologies. Not only 
would this reduce our dependence on foreign oil, the measure would also 
save consumers billions of dollars.
  Mr. Speaker, among the specific legislative initiatives in this bill 
near-and-dear to my heart, that I have long advocated with some of my 
friends and distinguished colleagues here in the House, are:
  Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle, PHEV, and other Advanced Drive 
Transportation Technologies, which will save fuels costs for consumers 
and businesses, reduce air pollution, and decrease dependence on 
imported oil;
  National Tire Efficiency Consumer Information Program, which will 
create a national program to educate consumers about the crucial role 
played by passenger tires, and the proper maintenance of passenger 
tires, on vehicle fuel economy;
  Renewable Fuels Standard, which will ensure that a percentage of our 
nation's fuel supply will be provided by the domestic production of 
biofuels. It will provide a pathway for reduced consumer fuel prices, 
increased energy security, and growth in our nation's factories and 
farms.
  United States-Israel Energy Cooperation Provisions, which establish a 
grant program to fund joint ventures between American and Israeli 
businesses, academic institutions, and non-profit agencies, with the 
goal of promoting the development of clean alternative fuels and more 
energy efficient technologies.
  Mr. Speaker, this legislation will help pave a path to a new era in 
American energy. I urge my colleagues to vote yes on this pragmatic and 
forward-looking bill.
  Thank you.
  Mr. STARK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of clean energy and a 
clean environment.
  The Renewable Fuels, Consumer Protection, and Energy Efficiency Act, 
H.R. 6, provides long overdue increases in our fuel efficiency 
standards for vehicles, CAFE, significant investments in energy 
efficiency, ending needless tax breaks for giant oil companies, and 
mandating production of electricity from clean and renewable sources. 
Although this bill represents real progress, much more must be done in 
order to avoid the catastrophic consequences of global warming. I urge 
all of my colleagues to take up this cause and support aggressive 
efforts to end our dangerous addiction to fossil fuels through a carbon 
tax.
  We have not increased CAFE standards since 1975. During the 
intervening years the price of oil has reached nearly $100 a barrel, 
our reliance on foreign oil has led to deadly wars and propped up 
corrupt regimes, and the threat of global warming has become real. The 
bill before us would increase CAFE standards to 35 mpg by 2020. 
Although I believe we can and should get there faster, this provision 
alone will save 1.1 million barrels of oil per day by 2020. That is 
real progress.
  With this legislation we also have the opportunity to greatly reduce 
our use of polluting fuels like coal by mandating that 15 percent of 
our Nation's electricity be generated from renewable and clean sources 
such as wind, biomass, and geothermal. Such a change will have the 
equivalent of removing 20 million cars from our roadways. In addition, 
this bill will reduce our energy use and save families money by setting 
strong, new efficiency standards for appliances and promoting carbon-
neutral green buildings. These two steps will prevent as much as 10 
billion tons of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere.
  I am troubled that we are continuing to subsidize and ratchet up 
corn-based ethanol production. A simple shift from gasoline to ethanol 
will do nothing to reduce greenhouse gas emmissions, but it will eat up 
open space and continue to drive up food prices. Fortunately, this bill 
includes some environmental safeguards and directs future production 
toward advanced biofuels. I urge my colleagues to pay close attention 
to the effect of ethanol on food prices here and abroad and move 
quickly to protect families who are squeezed by rapidly rising prices.
  This bill begins to address the energy and environmental crises 
caused by the unbridled use of fossil fuels. I urge all of my 
colleagues to support final passage. We must realize, however, that 
more fundamental changes, ideally a carbon tax, are needed if we are 
serious about stopping global warming and becoming truly energy 
independent.
  Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to support this historic and 
long-overdue legislation. Today's bill offers geopolitical and economic 
security, environmental sustainability, and significant cost savings 
for American consumers.
  It is a strategy to fight global warming. It is a compromise that 
raises fuel efficiency standards. It is an investment in a new 
generation of manufacturing jobs.
  This bill creates a world where American resources and ingenuity are 
used to make American energy, not to import it from other countries.
  The bill raises CAFE standards for the first time since 1975. As a 
result, each American family could save up to $1,000 a year at the 
pump. That alone should be reason enough for every Member of Congress 
to support this compromise.
  But today's bill does even more. It frees us from a dangerous 
dependence on foreign oil.

[[Page 32489]]

By 2030, it will save Americans more than double the level of oil we 
currently import from the Persian Gulf That amounts to more than 4 
million barrels saved every single day.
  This energy package also invests in the American people by creating 
three million green jobs over 10 years.
  With this bill, Mr. Speaker, we are forging an entirely new kind of 
economy--a clean energy economy. My hometown of Sacramento is the 
perfect example of a community that will contribute to this new energy 
economy.
  We have a growing clean-energy industry that is poised to take off. 
Our local utility already produces power from solar, wind, and methane 
gas. More and more of our region's homes, businesses, and vehicles are 
powered by renewable energy.
  However, my constituents need help from the Federal Government to 
bring this new energy economy into the mainstream.
  That is why I am proud to stand before the House today in support of 
this revolutionary energy package. It makes landmark investments in the 
energy economy that is developing in Sacramento and in likeminded 
cities across our great Nation.
  The biofuels this bill develops will power my constituents' cars. New 
fuel efficiency standards will help them save money on gas. They will 
work some of the millions of green-collar jobs it creates. This energy 
bill helps Sacramento continue to lead our country's energy revolution.
  One of the cornerstones of this revolution is a renewable portfolio 
standard. My home State of California already has such a standard. So 
do more than 20 other States. I have seen this progressive policy in 
action, Mr. Speaker, and it has contributed greatly to my home State's 
groundbreaking efforts to increase the use of clean power and forestall 
global warming.
  I am pleased that a renewable portfolio standard has been included in 
this comprehensive energy package. What works for our states can--and 
will--work for the entire country.
  Mr. Speaker, in Congress we often talk about creating a better future 
for our children and grandchildren. Today's energy bill will create 
this better future. It is a future of energy independence, clean power, 
fuel-efficient vehicles, and economic growth.
  I urge my colleagues to support the legislation.
  Mr. YARMUTH. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the most 
profound step forward in energy policy that this country has taken in 
30 years.
  In those 30 years, we in America have seen our dependence on foreign 
nations increase exponentially. The same issue which has caused this 
great nation to be beholden to others is draining the wallets of our 
fellow citizens while warming the earth at an alarming and unnatural 
rate.
  And so, I am incredibly proud to be a part of the Congress that 
isolated the source of those problems and responded resolutely, in a 
bicameral, bipartisan way. When the energy bill is fully implemented, a 
gallon of gasoline will take the average American nearly 30 percent 
farther, our need for foreign oil will plummet by a colossal 4 million 
barrels a day, energy bills will drop as appliances grow more 
efficient, and thanks to an unprecedented investment in homegrown, 
renewable, clean fuel, the prospect for real, safe energy independence 
is closer than it has ever been.
  Mr. Speaker, this is more than simply an energy bill, this is 
America's declaration of energy independence, and I urge my colleagues 
support it.
  Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this 
urgently needed legislation.
  Three months ago, the House passed an excellent energy bill that 
combined provisions developed by several different Committees designed 
to start putting our country on a path toward energy independence, 
increased national security and economic growth, and addressing global 
warming.
  The Senate has also passed its version of energy legislation, and the 
measure now before the House would make revisions to that version, 
returning the bill to the Senate for further action.
  By passing it, we can move toward greater energy independence--which 
means greater national security--in ways that will lower energy costs, 
help our economy, and reduce the carbon emissions that contribute to 
climate change.
  The measure includes a few things not part of the bill the House 
passed earlier, including the first revision in decades of the fuel-
consumption standards for automobiles and trucks and provisions dealing 
with the Secure Rural Schools and Payments-in-Lieu-of-Taxes, PILT 
program.
  I support those additions. Both are good for the nation, and the 
Secure Rural Schools and PILT provisions are of particular importance 
for Colorado because so many of our counties include large Federal land 
areas and therefore will benefit directly from that part of the bill. 
In 2006, Colorado counties received more than $6 million in Secure 
Rural Schools payments, while PILT payments to our counties totaled an 
additional $17.3 million.
  However, the authorization for Secure Rural Schools has expired and 
Congress has rarely appropriated all funds authorized for PILT--which 
is why I have introduced legislation, H.R. 790 to make full funding for 
PILT automatic without a need for annual appropriations. So, this part 
of the legislation is good news for Colorado because it will mean our 
counties will know what they will receive to help pay for law 
enforcement and other vital services.
  I am particularly pleased that the measure before us retains the 
provision of the House bill--added by adoption of an amendment I 
offered along with Representatives Tom Udall and Todd Platts--to 
establish a Renewable Electricity Standard, RES. This provision will 
require utilities acquire 15 percent of electricity production from 
renewable resources by 2020. The House's adoption of that amendment 
represented a great success by those of use working for positive change 
that will benefit rural communities, save consumers money, reduce air 
pollution, and increase reliability and energy security.
  I am also pleased that the legislation includes a provision on carbon 
capture and storage based upon a bill that I authored. Coal and other 
fossil fuels have been and will continue to be an important energy 
source for our country, but coal-burning power plants are also a major 
source of greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants. The carbon 
capture and storage research, development, and demonstration program 
authorized in this bill will help us tackle this challenge while 
keeping our economy healthy and strong. It will authorize the 
Department of Energy to conduct demonstration projects for both carbon 
dioxide capture and carbon dioxide injection and storage. Not only will 
this research program help us develop this technology and make it more 
economical, it will also help us understand the implications of storing 
large amounts of carbon dioxide underground.
  But some of the provisions we passed earlier are not part of this 
measure. I regret their omission, and if it had been up to me, they 
would not have been dropped.
  Those omissions include the majority of provisions in the earlier 
bill that originated in the Natural Resources Committee, including ones 
that I proposed regarding oil shale development, the protection of 
surface owners in ``split estate'' situations, and the safeguarding of 
our water supplies from potential adverse effects of energy 
development. And the measure now before us also omits the important 
provision to require that drilling on the top of the Roan Plateau be 
done in a way that will reduce adverse effects on other resources and 
values of that area, which is so important to Western Slope communities 
and Colorado's hunters and anglers.
  I am also disappointed that the measure does not include my provision 
to reorient and expand the U.S. Global Change Research Program, USGCRP, 
so that it will provide more user-driven research and information. The 
USGCRP coordinates all Federal climate change research and has 
contributed much to our understanding of climate change since its 
creation in 1990--but we now need to expand our knowledge and tailor 
the information to the needs of national, regional and local decision 
makers confronted with management and mitigation challenges. This 
bipartisan provision would have done that.
  I strongly supported all those provisions, and I intend to continue 
working to win their enactment either on their own or as part of some 
other measure.
  But while dropping those provisions means the measure now is weaker 
in some respects that the one the House passed earlier, it has been 
strengthened in an important respect by the addition of the fuel-
economy provisions, which will result in increasing the efficiency of 
all vehicles to 35 miles per gallon by 2020. And other parts of the 
legislation will provide long-term incentives to boost production of 
electricity from renewable sources, including wind, solar, biomass, 
geothermal, river currents, ocean tides, landfill gas, and trash 
combustion resources, as well as to expand production of homegrown 
fuels such as cellulosic ethanol and biodiesel.
  The bill will encourage manufacturers to build more efficient 
appliances, help working families afford fuel-efficient plug-in hybrid 
vehicles, and help businesses create energy-efficient workplaces. It 
will encourage deployment of renewable energy by enabling electric 
cooperatives and public power providers to use

[[Page 32490]]

new clean renewable energy bonds to help finance facilities to generate 
electricity from renewable resources. And it will help states leverage 
tax credit bonds to implement low-interest loan programs and grant 
programs to help working families purchase energy-efficient appliances, 
make energy-efficient home improvements, or install solar panels, small 
wind turbines, and geothermal heat pumps.
  Further, the bill will create an Energy Efficiency and Renewable 
Energy Worker Training Program to train Americans for good ``green'' 
jobs--such as in solar panel manufacturing and green building 
construction--that will be created by new renewable-energy and energy-
efficiency initiatives. This will provide training opportunities to our 
veterans, to those displaced by national energy and environmental 
policy and economic globalization, to individuals seeking pathways out 
of poverty, to young people at risk and to workers already in the 
energy field who need to update their skills.
  Mr. Speaker, as I said, this legislation is much needed and long 
overdue. While I regret the omission of several very important parts of 
the version the House passed earlier this year, what remains and what 
has been added combine to make a measure that deserves to pass here and 
in the Senate and that President Bush should sign into law. I urge its 
approval.
  Mr. DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, this is our third attempt at 
passing a comprehensive energy bill. Each manifestation inches closer 
to the compromise needed to pass a bill into law and fundamentally 
shift our Nation's energy policy. Unfortunately, we are not there yet.
  Our excessive dependence on foreign oil and heavy use of dirty fossil 
fuels are serious threats to our national security, economic security 
and our environment. We must lay the groundwork through a comprehensive 
energy policy that seeks to decrease our dependence on foreign oil by 
increasing domestic production in the short term. At the same time, 
however, we must devote substantial resources into research and 
development of new technologies and facilitate a gradual shift to 
green, renewable and domestic sources of energy.
  We cannot pretend to address our dependence on foreign oil or 
consumption of fossil fuels without increasing Corporate Average Fuel 
Economy, CAFE, standards. I was baffled when the House was not allowed 
to debate such a crucial issue during our two prior deliberations on 
energy bills. I have long been a proponent of increasing efficiency 
standards, sponsoring and cosponsoring bills to accomplish that goal in 
this and previous legislative sessions. I am pleased this provision was 
finally included by the House democratic leadership.
  Yet, this positive development is outweighed by a radical tax 
increase on our domestic oil and gas industry. I could not vote for the 
$16.1 billion tax package that was attempted in August, and I cannot 
vote for a $21.5 billion tax increase today. By taking such an action, 
this bill will hinder domestic production of oil and gas and further 
increase our reliance on foreign sources of energy. U.S. dependence on 
imported petroleum is already at an all time high. The imposition of 
retroactive and punitive taxes and fees will only exacerbate this 
problem.
  The needed direction of our energy policy is clear: increase domestic 
production to utilize our secure, abundant sources of energy while we 
develop the technologies that will feed our hunger for energy in the 
years to come. I urge my colleagues to join me in voting against this 
legislation and work towards a viable, practical energy strategy.
  Mr. CAMPBELL of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask that 
while the House consider this energy legislation, that they take into 
account that the CAFE provision in this bill does nothing to clarify 
the critical issue of which federal government agency has the lead on 
regulating fuel economy.
  To effectively improve fuel economy there cannot be two separate sets 
of fuel economy standards--one from the National Highway Traffic Safety 
Administration (NHTSA) and another from the Environmental Protection 
Agency (EPA). Having two agencies with inconsistent standards creates 
substantial regulatory uncertainty, confusion, and duplication of 
effort.
  Most importantly, the legislation gives EPA free rein on the fuel 
economy issue which would allow them the ability to supersede 
Congressional authority over CAFE. This could mean that EPA could 
establish a CAFE standard that far exceeds the standard passed by 
Congress.
  The White House agrees that one agency needs to be the lead entity 
responsible for a single national regulatory standard. The legislation 
should have harmonized EPA and NHTSA's distinct roles to regulate fuel 
economy and emissions.
  A single, nationwide fuel economy standard would create certainty and 
achieve the mutual goal of reducing gasoline consumption in an 
effective manner.
  It is my hope that this problem be remedied.
  Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to this 
reckless energy policy, which will do absolutely nothing to make us 
energy independent, or lower energy costs. This bill sets us on a 
dangerous path and ties our hands in a regulatory mess to ensure that 
we cannot produce domestic energy.
  Like my colleagues, I believe we should find solutions to address the 
growing demand for energy. The biggest concern facing the farmers and 
ranchers of this country are increased input costs from higher fuel 
prices and fertilizer. The U.S. fertilizer industry relies upon natural 
gas as the fundamental feedstock for the production of nitrogen 
fertilizer. The rest of the U.S. farm sector also depends on 
significant amounts of natural gas for food processing, irrigation, 
crop drying, heating farm buildings and homes, the production of crop 
protection chemicals, and, let's not forget, ethanol biofuel 
production. In addition to the farm sector, the forest products 
industry relies more on natural gas than any other fossil fuel and 
energy amounts to the third largest manufacturing cost for the 
industry.
  Unbelievably, this legislation contains no new energy supplies in it 
and does nothing to relieve the burdens of increased costs on producers 
who provide the food and fiber for American consumers. It seems that 
the Majority's plan to move toward energy independence includes 
limiting domestic energy production and imposing new government 
mandates that will prove to be costly and burdensome to the American 
people.
  This legislation would dramatically expand the Renewable Fuels 
Standard (RFS) by increasing it to 36 billion gallons by 2022. This 
initiative is extremely ambitious and could be achieved by tapping all 
sectors of agriculture including plant and wood waste, vegetable oil, 
and animal fat and waste which would result in the production of 21 
billion gallons of cellulosic ethanol. Strangely, the bill discourages 
the production of cellulosic fuels from forests, even though forests 
are the largest potential source of cellulosic feedstock. While I am in 
favor of finding new markets for agriculture products, what good is 
finding new markets for agriculture commodities when the cost of 
production is too much for our farmers and ranchers?
  We should develop a policy that is technology neutral and allows the 
market to develop new sources of renewable energy. The RFS provisions 
create an unrealistic mandate for advanced biofuels technology that 
doesn't yet exist and creates hurdles for the development of second 
generation biofuels by placing restrictions on alternative fuels, 
renewable fuel plant production, and, most important, limits the 
harvesting of our homegrown feedstocks. These restrictions will 
undoubtedly lead to a consumer tax to help bridge the gap in production 
that will occur if this policy is put into place. Even with the 
advancement of cellulosic ethanol, the expansion of the RFS would still 
require 15 billion gallons of renewable fuel to come from the only 
current commercially available option: grain ethanol
  Last year, 20 percent of the U.S. corn crop was used for ethanol 
production and that amount is expected to rise significantly over the 
next few years. With feed stocks meeting most of our renewable fuel 
initiatives, the livestock sector is facing significantly higher feed 
costs. Corn and soybeans' most valuable market has always been, and 
will continue to be, the livestock producers. We must ensure that there 
are not unintended economic distortions to either grain or livestock 
producers as a result of these sectors prospering from other markets.
  The benefits of reduced reliance on foreign energy sources, stable 
energy prices, and new markets for agricultural products should not be 
replaced with a risk of adding even more increased input costs for 
livestock producers and creating even higher food prices for consumers.
  This energy policy, set in place by the Democrat Majority, 
exemplifies the Democrat motto through and through: Tax and spend. This 
bill imposes $21 billion in tax increases. The other side will tell you 
that these tax increases will not affect the average hardworking 
American, only the ``big, evil oil companies.'' Nothing could be 
farther from the truth. The taxes contained in this bill will impede 
new domestic oil and gas production, will discourage investment in new 
refinery capacity, and will make it more expensive for domestic energy 
companies to operate in the U.S. than their foreign competitors, making 
the price at the pump rise even higher.
  Let's make no mistake: an increased tax doesn't just hurt energy 
companies, it hurts every American--individual, farm, or company--that 
consumes energy. Increased taxes

[[Page 32491]]

on energy companies are passed to consumers. Every American will see 
these increased costs on their energy bill. This body shouldn't pass 
legislation that further raises energy prices for consumers.
  What is even more disturbing is that these increased costs will be 
felt by some of our Nation's most poor. On average, the Nation's 
working poor spends approximately 13 to 30 percent of their yearly 
income on energy costs. This average is already too high, and sadly 
this legislation will only dramatically increase the amount of money 
these workers will have to spend on energy costs. I have heard those on 
the other side of the aisle say that we must all shoulder the cost to 
produce clean energy. Well, the costs of the clean energy in the 
Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) alone, as estimated by just one of 
Virginia's many electric utilities, will increase $200 million for its 
retail customers. By shifting to renewable energy sources, that are not 
as available or as cost effective as traditional sources, we will see a 
rise in energy prices across the board and this will be hardest felt by 
working people who cannot afford to shoulder any more costs.
  While this bill is said to be focused on new energy technologies, it 
fails to address some of our most promising domestic alternative and 
renewable energy supplies that could be cost effective for American 
consumers. Coal is one of our Nation's most abundant resources, yet the 
development of Coal-to-Liquid technologies is ignored in this bill. 
Furthermore, this legislation does nothing to encourage the 
construction of new nuclear facilities.
  Proponents of this legislation will tout how green this bill is; 
however, if my colleagues really want to promote green energy they 
should encourage the production of more nuclear sites which provide 
CO2 emission-free energy. The rest of the world is far 
outpacing the U.S. in its commitment to clean nuclear energy. We 
generate only 20 percent of our energy from this clean energy, when 
other countries can generate about 80 percent of their electricity 
needs through nuclear. It is a travesty that in over 1,000 pages this 
legislation does not once mention or encourage the construction of 
clean and reliable nuclear plants. Nuclear energy is the most reliable 
and advanced of any renewable energy technology, and if we are serious 
about encouraging CO2-free energy use, we must support 
nuclear energy.
  This legislation does nothing to address the energy concerns of our 
country; and it does nothing to relieve agricultural producers of their 
increasing input costs. This legislation only makes the situation worse 
and it is the product of a flawed process that does not have bipartisan 
support!
  This bill is a dangerous policy for our country. If we really want to 
make our country energy independent, this Congress must pass an energy 
bill that contains energy. This bill does not. I urge my colleagues to 
reject this awful bill, let's start over, and work to find real 
solutions to the energy needs of our Nation.
  Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I support the conference 
agreement on the Energy Independence and Security Act and I thank 
Speaker Pelosi for her personal involvement and leadership on this 
issue.
  This legislation: (1) reduces our dependency on unstable foreign 
sources of oil; and, (2) moves us away from our unsustainable reliance 
on fossil fuels.
  To do so is absolutely necessary for our economy, our future 
prosperity and our environment.
  Americans are reminded how important this is every time they fill up 
their gas tanks at the pump.
  While we should not try to manipulate the price at the pump, we can 
take concrete steps to reduce the amount of oil we consume, by making 
our vehicles travel further on each gallon they burn, and in doing so, 
reducing our dependency on too many unstable and unfriendly foreign 
sources of oil.
  It's been more than 30 years since Congress last raised automobile 
fuel efficiency standards, and during the interim, the average fuel 
efficiency of our vehicles has actually declined. We've regressed in 
meeting our goals.
  This legislation corrects this inexcusable abdication of 
responsibility and mandates tough, but achievable, fuel efficiency 
standards that will reduce our daily consumption of oil by 4 million 
barrels per day by 2030--more than twice the amount we import from the 
Persian Gulf today.
  Consumers can look forward to savings hundreds or even thousands of 
dollars every year on their gas bills.
  This legislation also looks toward the future and crafts responsible 
policies that, if implemented today, will reduce the threat of global 
warming and the impact of future oil price shocks by moving us toward 
cleaner, more environmentally responsible alternative sources of 
energy.
  The mandate on commercial power companies to produce 15 percent of 
their electricity from renewable sources will be the equivalent of 
retiring 300 coal-fired power plants, the single largest source of 
carbon dioxide emissions.
  With this legislation, we have the beginnings of a substantial 
commitment toward lower greenhouse gas emissions and greater energy 
independence.
  By 2030, the policies implemented under this legislation will have 
achieved about 40 percent of the greenhouse gas emissions reductions 
most scientists have concluded are needed to avoid catastrophic global 
climate change.
  Despite the claims of rising prices, economic disruption and 
disaster, this legislation will achieve its objectives in a way that 
will spur innovation, create thousands of new manufacturing and service 
jobs, increase savings for consumers, put fewer of our earnings into 
the pockets of unfriendly foreign interests and set up a safer, more 
secure future for our children.
  I urge my colleagues to support this conference agreement.
  Mr. LEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I support the rule and urge the House to 
adopt the Energy Independence and Security Act.
  The basic issue before us is whether we are going to take action to 
address energy security in this country, or are we going to sit on the 
sidelines and let American consumers and businesses fend for 
themselves. All of us know that we can't continue business as usual. 
The price of oil stands near $90 a barrel. In my home State of 
Michigan, gas costs over $3 a gallon. Families are struggling with 
persistently high home heating costs. At the same time, the effects of 
climate change are becoming more and more pronounced, yet the United 
States remains the only industrialized nation in the world that has no 
plan to address global warming.
  The package before the House strengthens our energy security, lowers 
energy costs, grows our economy, creates jobs, and begins to address 
global warming. It also bolsters our national security. Today we import 
more than 60 percent of the oil we use. It is simply not in our long-
term security interests to continue to rely on oil imports from the 
Middle East and other volatile regions of the world. We can't drill our 
way out way out of this situation, so we need to try another approach.
  Many of the provisions of this legislation are common sense and will 
achieve significant energy savings with little or no cost. For example, 
the bill sets new energy efficiency standards for appliances, lighting, 
and buildings. Doing so will save consumers and businesses hundreds of 
billions of dollars over time. This legislation also includes 
incentives for manufacturers to produce washing machines, refrigerators 
and dishwashers that push the boundaries of energy and water 
efficiency, and to build them in the United States. Reducing the energy 
or water usage of a washing machine may seem like a small thing, but 
over time and across millions of households, these incentives will 
produce remarkable reductions in energy and water usage, and consumers 
will save money on their utility bills.
  Other sections of this bill will challenge key sectors of our 
economy. In particular, the legislation calls for a 40 percent increase 
in vehicle fuel economy by 2020. The compromise that has been reached 
is ambitious, but it has the support of auto manufacturers, the United 
Auto Workers, consumers groups, and the environmental community. We 
also reform the existing CAFE mechanism, which for years has 
discriminated against manufactures, including Ford, GM and Chrysler, 
that produce a full line of vehicle sizes. The agreement contains anti-
backsliding language to help keep small car production here in the 
United States and protect the jobs of American workers. I am pleased 
that this bill also begins the work of helping industry reach the 
higher mileage standards through retooling assistance and incentives 
such as a new plug-in hybrid tax credit.
  I also strongly support the renewable electricity portfolio 
provisions of this bill that require utilities to generate 15 percent 
of their electricity from renewable sources by 2020. Obviously, this 
provision will pay environmental dividends. Moving towards renewable 
energy will help keep mercury out of the Great Lakes and greenhouse 
gases out of the atmosphere, but it also will help create new 
industries and jobs here in the United States. There is no reason in 
the world why the U.S. should not lead the world in the production of 
wind turbines and solar panels. This bill will help ensure that these 
jobs are created here in the United States.
  Our work in this House is about priorities, and the difference in 
priorities on this bill could

[[Page 32492]]

not be more clear. I urge all of my colleagues to support this 
responsible legislation.
  Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, the people of rural Missouri and those who 
live throughout the United States are eager for Congress to enact 
energy policies that help alleviate record high oil prices, reduce 
America's dependency on foreign oil, promote homegrown energy sources, 
and preserve the environment for future generations. The comprehensive 
energy bill we are considering today, the Energy Independence and 
Security Act, would address the peoples' concerns in these areas. After 
careful consideration, I have concluded the measure is good for rural 
Missouri and for the security of our Nation. I will lend my support to 
it.
  Our Nation cannot afford to ignore the impact high energy prices are 
having on individuals, on families, and on the economy at large. Oil 
and fuel prices have been at record levels for weeks. Rural Missouri 
families and farmers, who rely heavily on transportation to go about 
their daily lives, are particularly hard hit by high fuel costs. They 
have been allocating larger portions of their income to fill their gas 
tanks and to heat their homes. Meanwhile, America's top five oil 
companies have been collecting record profits and refusing to invest 
those profits in new oil refining capabilities.
  Enactment of the Energy Independence and Security Act would be 
welcome news to Missouri motorists. For the first time since 1975, this 
legislation would raise fuel efficiency standards for the cars and 
trucks sold in our country. Further, it would ensure that automakers 
continue producing trucks driven by many rural Americans by adjusting 
the fuel efficiency requirements for these particular vehicles.
  Improved fuel efficiency is long overdue. Over time, this added 
efficiency would reduce by half the amount of oil America imports from 
foreign sources, reduce hazardous vehicle emissions, preserve our 
environment, and eventually yield fewer trips to the gas station for 
hard working Americans. I am pleased that the automobile industry and 
conservationists support this fuel efficiency standard.
  Important to Missouri farmers is the robust renewable fuels standard 
included in the Energy Independence and Security Act. In the Show-Me 
State and throughout America's heartland, ethanol and biodiesel 
production facilities dot the countryside. They have fostered economic 
development in areas of the country that have struggled to produce 
jobs. Many of these facilities are owned by farmers who have committed 
their financial resources and ingenuity toward advancing America's 
energy independence, improving farm incomes, and boosting the economic 
well-being of small towns.
  The 2005 Energy Bill included a strong renewable fuels standard for 
ethanol made from corn. Since passage of that legislation, ethanol 
production has dramatically increased, corn yields have set records, 
and ethanol's farmer-investors have reaped economic gains. Because of 
the overwhelming success of ethanol and the demand for corn, the price 
per bushel of corn has risen. Combined with widespread drought that has 
impacted much of the Midwest and Great Plains States over the past 
several years, killing or damaging grazing pastureland, high corn 
prices have raised concerns about ethanol with some livestock 
producers.
  This year's energy bill would build upon the successful renewable 
fuels standard established in 2005 by allowing for a strong corn 
ethanol mandate, while also phasing in ethanol made from sources other 
than corn to help assuage the concerns of some U.S. livestock 
producers. The bill also would create a minimum use requirement for 
biodiesel made from soybeans and other sources.
  While I will support the Energy Independence and Security Act, the 
bill is not perfect. I am concerned that investor-owned utility firms 
in Missouri and elsewhere may not be able to sufficiently produce 
electricity from renewable sources within the time mandated by the 
legislation. I am hopeful that the Energy and Commerce Committee will 
sit down with investor-owned utility firms to iron out any glitches 
that may arise in this particular area.
  Taken as a whole, the Energy Independence and Security Act would be 
good for rural Missouri and for our country. I will vote for it and 
urge my colleagues to do the same.
  Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, the signs of an energy crisis are clear--we 
are facing the consequences of significant climatic change, our 
national security continues to be at risk, and our energy economy must 
change in the face of $100 per barrel oil.
  Investors are ready to invest billions of dollars into American made 
next generation clean technologies, but for too long the Federal 
Government has been subsidizing the old technologies. Inventors and 
entrepreneurs, the true engines of American economic growth, are 
already focused on energy, but they are still waiting for Congress to 
send them the right signals before bringing their full efforts to bear 
on the problem.
  That is why I am pleased to rise in support of an energy bill that 
sends the right signal and will help to revolutionize our Nation's 
energy economy as we know it, help free us of our dependence on foreign 
oil, create millions of new jobs, and address global warming.
  The Energy Independence and Security Act will increase corporate 
average fuel economy standards to 35 miles per gallon by 2020; greatly 
expand the national biofuels mandate; require utilities nationwide to 
provide 15 percent of their power from renewable sources by 2020; 
strengthen energy efficiency for a wide range of products, appliances, 
lighting, and buildings; create education and job training programs to 
train the next generation of Americans to ensure we remain competitive 
in the new energy economy; and repeal tax breaks for profit-rich oil 
companies and invest that money in clean renewable energy technologies 
and in much needed research and development.
  The evidence that we need to change our reliance on fossil fuels has 
never been clearer. The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on 
Climate Change has issued its latest, and most dire, report on what we 
can expect if we do not immediately reduce greenhouse-gas emissions. 
The IPCC has said that worldwide carbon emissions must fall by at least 
50 percent by 2050 to limit a temperature rise of about three degrees 
Fahrenheit and prevent the worst climate impacts from occurring.
  By passing the Energy Independence and Security Act, we are taking 
the first step in developing a policy for reducing carbon emissions. I 
pledge to work diligently with my colleagues to take additional steps 
in 2008, and urge adoption of this important legislation.
   Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I'm amazed that the Democrats took 
so long to write such a bad bill. I would laugh if this was any 
laughing matter, but designing the Nation's energy policy is among the 
most serious responsibilities of the Congress. H.R. 6 has recklessly 
been designed by radical environmentalists to achieve many of their 
long-term goals, including significantly raising the price of energy 
used by Americans, vastly reducing American manufacturing and mining 
jobs, increasing federal control over rural Western communities, and 
reducing and further locking-up the use of our vast God-given coal, oil 
and gas, oil shale, and timber resources.
  This bill reaches into every American's bank account and steals vast 
amounts of hard earned dollars. As a result of this bill, gasoline will 
be much more expensive, electricity in all areas of the country will go 
up with many areas with huge increases, home heating oil will continue 
to surge to record levels, and natural gas prices will literally go 
through the roof. This bill, a work of exceeding incompetence, is the 
greatest holiday gift to the OPEC oil cartel ever given by a sovereign 
nation.
  Although there are a few provisions in this bill that are 
appropriate, the vast expanse of this bill is an abomination. If it 
becomes law, the Democrats who supported it will have to answer to the 
American people.
  Mr. MARKEY. Mr. Speaker, I also wish to also briefly discuss various 
provisions in order to more fully explain the statutory language and to 
provide context for what we are accomplishing with this historic energy 
bill.
  Section 3 of the bill states: ``Except to the extent expressly 
provided in this Act, or in an amendment made by this Act, nothing in 
this Act or an amendment made by this act supersedes, limits the 
authority or responsibility conferred by, or authorizes any violation 
of any provision of law (including a regulation), including any energy 
or environmental law or regulation.''
  The laws and regulations referred to in section 3 include, but are 
not limited to, the Clean Air Act and any regulations promulgated under 
Clean Air Act authority. It is the intent of Congress to fully preserve 
existing federal and state authority under the Clean Air Act.
  In addition, Congress does not intend, by including provisions in 
Title I of the bill that reform and alter the authority of the 
Secretary of Transportation to increase fuel economy standards for 
passenger automobiles, non-passenger automobiles, work trucks, and 
medium and heavy duty trucks, to in any way supersede or limit the 
authority and/or responsibility conferred by sections 177, 202, and 209 
of the Clean Air Act. (For section 202 of the Clean Air Act, this 
includes but is not limited to the authority and responsibility 
affirmed by the Supreme Court's April 2, 2007 decision in Massachusetts 
v. EPA (No. 05-1120), and, for sections 177 and 209 of the Clean Air 
Act, this includes but is not limited to the authority affirmed by the 
September 12, 2007 decision of

[[Page 32493]]

the U.S. District Court for the District of Vermont in Green Mountain 
Chrysler Dodge Jeep et al. v. Crombie et al. (No. 2:05-cv-302).
  Title 1 of the bill addresses CAFE Standards. Section 102(a) would 
require that the fleet of new passenger and non-passenger vehicles made 
for sale in model year 2020 reach a fleet-wide fuel economy average of 
at least 35 miles per gallon, regardless of shifts in the market or any 
other consideration. While fuel economy standards for each of model 
years 2011-2019 are expected to be the maximum feasible standard, this 
section does not allow the Department of Transportation (DOT) to set a 
fleet-wide average of lower than 35 miles per gallon for model year 
2020 under any circumstances. In addition, if the maximum feasible 
level for model year 2020 is higher than 35 miles per gallon due to 
technological progress and/or other factors, Congress intends to 
require DOT to set standards at the maximum feasible level.
  It is also the intent of this section to require DOT to set interim 
standards between 2011 and 2019 to make rapid and consistent annual 
progress towards achieving the 35 mpg minimum by 2020. In asking for 
``ratable'' progress, the intent of Congress is to seek relatively 
consistent proportional increases in fuel economy standards each year, 
such that no single year through 2020 should experience a significantly 
higher increase than the previous year.
  Section 104 addresses credit trading among and within automakers' 
vehicle fleets, and is intended to increase flexibility for automakers, 
but it is the intent of Congress that any trading not in any way reduce 
the oil savings achieved by the standards set for any year under this 
title.
  Section 105 is intended to provide added information for consumers, 
but is not intended to in any way interfere with or diminish EPA 
labeling authority. Congress intends that DOT work closely with EPA in 
fulfilling the requirements of this section.
  Section 106 is intended to clarify that Title I does not impact fuel 
economy standards or the standard-setting process for vehicles 
manufactured before model year 2011. This section is not intended to 
codify, or otherwise support or reject, any standards applying before 
model year 2011, and is not intended to reverse, supersede, overrule, 
or in any way limit the November 15, 2007 decision of the U.S. Court of 
Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in Center for Biological Diversity v. 
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (No. 06-71891)
  Section 109 makes modifications to the cap on the credits allowed to 
manufacturers making dual-fuel vehicles to ensure that the dual-fuel 
vehicle credit program is phased out and is fully and permanently 
eliminated by 2020 and thereafter.
  I urge the Secretary to pay careful heed to the intent and spirit of 
these provisions in carrying out the provisions of this Title, so that 
we achieve the Bill's goals of increasing the fuel efficiency of our 
cars, SUVs, and other vehicles.
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, we know what is possible for our Nation if 
we choose to move seriously and quickly down the path to energy 
independence. We know what this choice means.
  Energy independence means demanding more efficiency and smarter 
technology for our cars, homes, businesses and industry. Energy 
independence means investing in our communities and creating the 
resources and workforce necessary for expanding markets. It means 
developing new technologies that create new jobs through America's 
economic backbone: our innovation industries.
  If we want to make opportunity real for more Americans--if we want to 
keep our Nation strong even as our new economy continues to change--
there is no better way to do it than by investing in a new energy 
future.
  The Energy Independence and Security Act meets our obligations as a 
Nation at every point along the spectrum: promoting renewable energy, 
growing our economy, creating new jobs, lowering energy prices, and 
beginning to address global warming.
  We are taking on an initiative more ambitious than ever, to be sure, 
but nothing less will secure our Nation's energy future.
  Of course, our energy challenges have never been more urgent--
threatening our environment, our economy, and our national security--
but we have been dealing with many of these issues for quite a while: 
As far back as 1925, Henry Ford touted ethanol as the fuel of the 
future.
  Well, more than eight decades later we still have some work to do 
when it comes to potential solutions like biofuels, especially in my 
region of the country. There are still no E85 fueling stations in 
Connecticut, and the first public biodiesel station in the State opened 
just last week.
  We must understand that despite some of the current drawbacks of 
corn-derived ethanol, biofuels are a critical first step--not so much a 
panacea or a solution, but a transition into a more sustainable process 
toward cellulosic ethanol.
  But the real question is: How do we respond? How do we in New England 
respond when access remains limited? And how do we as a Congress 
respond right now, as families and businesses across America struggle 
with skyrocketing gas prices and escalating home heating costs. Do we 
bury our head in the sand or do we aspire to achieve something great. 
If we give consumers and businesses the opportunity to be it part of a 
real transformation, our entire Nation will reap the benefits.
  It is already happening: Last year, I was very proud to help unveil 
the first large-scale biodiesel plant in my State, in the town of 
Bethlehem. Today, the BioPur Company is producing over 400,000 gallons 
of pure biodiesel annually and plans to double production within a year 
to meet the growing demand.
  Spurring that kind of change is why I came to the Congress, and I 
believe it is at the core of our mission on the Agriculture 
Appropriations Subcommittee which I chair.
  With this year's House Agriculture Appropriations spending bill we 
made significant new investment--$1.2 billion; a 215 percent increase 
over the president's request--to promote renewable energy, 
strengthening research and education to make biofuels a priority and 
moving us further down the path to energy independence.
  And we can do that again today by passing the Energy Independence and 
Security Act, providing a historic commitment to the homegrown biofuels 
that will fuel our cars and trucks: diversifying our energy crops from 
coast to coast with a robust increase in the renewable fuels standard; 
requiring 9 billion gallons of renewable fuels in 2008 and 
progressively increasing to a 36 billion gallon requirement by 2022; 
incentives to boost their production and increase the number of flex 
fuel and hybrid vehicles.
  And, of course, we are taking the long overdue step to increase 
vehicle efficiency standards to 35 miles per gallon by 2020--Providing 
the automobile industry the certainty it needs, while offering 
flexibility to automakers and ensuring that we keep American 
manufacturing jobs and continue domestic production of fuel efficient 
vehicles.
  The Union of Concerned Scientists, UCS, reports that these higher 
standards will cut oil imports by 1.1 million barrels per day in 2020. 
That is about half the amount we currently import from the entire 
Persian Gulf. If these standards had already been in place this year, 
the average driver would have used 160 fewer gallons of gas, and saved 
$500. But let's not look back, when we can move forward and embrace 
tomorrow's great challenges.
  This is an investment in the generations to come. But we also have it 
responsibility to working and middle class families today. A 2006 study 
from the National Renewable Energy Lab, NREL, identified the shortage 
of skills and training as a leading non-technical barrier to renewable 
energy and energy efficiency growth. The NREL study identified a number 
of critical unmet training needs, including lack of reliable 
installation, maintenance, and inspection services, the shortage of key 
technical and manufacturing skills, and failure of the educational 
system to provide adequate training in new technologies.
  That is why this bill authorizes $125 million to establish national 
and state job training programs in the renewable energy and energy 
efficiency fields, training a quality workforce for ``green'' collar 
jobs--such as solar panel manufacturer and green building construction 
worker.
  In Connecticut we have already seen the local job growth that comes 
with investment and innovation in biofuel and fuel cell technology. 
Now, for example, this bill provides an 8-year extension of a tax 
credit for investments in fuel-cell properties with a credit of $3,000 
per kilowatt capacity--expressed in the tax code as $1,500 per half 
kilowatt capacity--or 30 percent, whichever is less. Looking forward, 
we know that major investments in renewable energy could create 3 
million green jobs nationally over 10 years.
  And we are doing it responsibly. This legislation does not add to the 
deficit and all revenue offsets resulted from bipartisan negotiations.
  It is time to stop talking about energy independence and start moving 
toward it. The American people get that and they want us to act today. 
It is no wonder this bill has won the support and praise from such a 
broad coalition of environmental, business and labor organizations--
from farm groups to faith groups, from the United Auto Workers to the 
U.S.

[[Page 32494]]

Conference of Mayors. For years, President Bush has talked about 
breaking our addiction to fossil fuel, State of the Union after State 
of the Union. But now that he actually has an opportunity to make good 
on that promise, it seems he would rather make a hollow political 
gesture with his veto pen.
  We deserve better. This bill represents a critical turning point and 
bold statement: On the path toward energy independence, the status quo 
is not an option. There is nothing America cannot achieve if we put our 
minds to it, harnessing our future to our own spirit of ingenuity and 
innovation.
  Mr. CAMP of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, this bill is a failure on the most 
basic points: It fails to drive down prices at the gas pumps; it fails 
to lower home heating bills; and it fails to reduce our reliance on 
foreign crude oil. Worse yet, this bill actually increases our reliance 
on oil from the Middle East and increases taxes by $20 billion on 
American manufacturers.
  Had this bill been crafted in a bipartisan fashion, instead of in a 
secret marathon session that produced a bill only this morning, we 
might have a bill that actually helps families and businesses dealing 
with record energy costs, and we might have a bill that actually helps 
us transition to more environmentally friendly fuels.
  Unfortunately, what we do have--in addition to a new $20 billion tax 
bill--are Federal mandates that States cannot possibly comply with, a 
slush fund worth billions of dollars that lacks any oversight, and more 
advisory committees and task forces.
  I am particularly concerned about this $3 billion in new government 
spending to subsidize projects that have nothing to do with lowering 
energy prices. Instead of lowering prices for consumers, this bill 
allows the Beverly Hills police department to buy hybrid Lexuses and a 
fake rainforest to be built in Iowa. In my view, this $3 billion should 
be spent on helping Americans better afford their high home heating 
costs.
  As a Member from Michigan, I would be remiss if I did not talk about 
the CAFE standards in this bill. To suggest this bill is the best 
America's automakers could get says much about this Congress. If 
President Coolidge's quote that ``The business of America is business'' 
expressed overconfidence in the American economy, this bill expresses 
at best a disdain for American automobile manufacturers and at worst an 
outright hostility to the work we do in Michigan.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote against this bill.
  Mr. ETHERIDGE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 6, 
the Renewable Fuels, Consumer Protection, and Energy Efficiency Act of 
2007.
  Let me congratulate Speaker Pelosi, Chairman Dingell, and the House 
Democratic leadership for bringing this legislation to the floor for a 
new direction for America's energy independence.
  Anyone who has filled up a gas tank in the past year knows that gas 
prices are highly volatile and too high for the average American. Yet 
while Americans are struggling to make ends meet, oil companies are 
making record profits. As a former North Carolina small businessman, 
and a part-time farmer, I believe that it is our duty to find 
alternatives to what has become a dangerous reliance on foreign oil.
  And let me be clear, our Nation has the capability to gain its energy 
independence. H.R. 6 will move us close to this goal by promoting the 
use of renewable fuel. This legislation will create a fund, which will 
be used to extend and expand tax credits for ethanol and biodiesel, 
extend loan guarantees to farmers to produce renewable energy, and 
increase the use of flex fuel vehicles.
  Today we have the technology to solve our energy crisis growing in 
our fields. We have the ability to turn soybeans and peanuts, both 
grown in large numbers in my home State of North Carolina, into 
biodiesel, and the technology to turn sugarcane and corn into ethanol. 
What we haven't had up to this point is the leadership to develop the 
infrastructure needed to facilitate the use of these fuels.
  The legislation before us today will begin to do just that. I 
encourage my colleagues to vote for H.R. 6.
  Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, the energy bill before us today raises the 
bar and sets new, higher standards for us as a Nation and all I can say 
is ``It's about time.''
  It's about time we raised CAFE standards to a level to be competitive 
with the rest of the world. Allowing these standards to fall behind is 
an embarrassment for a country that should be a role model for other 
countries in technology and efficiency.
  It's about time that we had a nationwide renewable energy standard. 
Renewable energy in some form is available in every corner of this 
Nation. We need to invest in it and make it work for us and for a 
cleaner future for our children. Setting a standard at 15 percent is a 
good start.
  And it's about time that we work toward making cleaner fuels for our 
automobiles. That's why I'm proud language is included in this bill 
that i authored with the gentleman from Maryland, Mr. Bartlett, which 
sets a goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the production 
and use of biofuels.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill and move our 
energy policy forward for our children and grandchildren. It's about 
time.
  Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the 
Energy Independence and Security Act and the long-overdue measures it 
contains--including reasonable increases in CAFE standards--to help our 
Nation conserve energy and to lower the energy costs that weigh so 
heavily on our citizens.
  I applaud Speaker Pelosi, Chairman Oberstar, and all of the Members 
who have worked on this measure for their foresighted leadership on 
this Act and for their dedication to completing the hard work necessary 
to bring this Act to the floor today.
  As Chairman of the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime 
Transportation, I will draw particular attention to the Short Sea 
Shipping Initiative created in this Act.
  This Initiative will support the expansion of short sea shipping--
which is simply the alliterative name of shipping voyages between two 
points in the United States or between Canada and the United States.
  At the present time, trucks carry nearly 70 percent of the freight 
tonnage transported in the United States. By contrast, the most highly 
developed water freight transportation routes in the U.S.--those 
running on the Mississippi River, the Great Lakes, and the St. Lawrence 
Seaway--carry just 13 percent of freight tonnage in the United States.
  The Short Sea Shipping Initiative seeks to make water a mode 
competitive with roads and rails by supporting the development of the 
vessels used in short sea shipping voyages as well as of the port and 
landside infrastructure needed to load and unload those vessels.
  Specifically, the Act will make vessels built under the Jones Act in 
the United States eligible for assistance from the Capital Construction 
Fund administered by the United States Maritime Administration, MARAD.
  As I know there has been debate on this point, I emphasize that MARAD 
shall exercise sole authority to determine issues relating to operation 
of a qualified program vessel in the short sea trade.
  We further expect that to ensure this program is initiated right 
away, the Secretary of Transportation shall work to revise current 
regulations to conform to this legislation while also approving Fund 
contributions and withdrawals related to eligible short sea shipping 
transportation projects immediately.
  As I close, I want to note that additional measures can still be 
taken to promote the development of short sea shipping. Perhaps the 
most important among them is to exempt these voyages from the Harbor 
Maintenance Tax. H.R. 1499, which I authored, would achieve that 
exemption and I thank Chairman Charlie Rangel for continuing to work 
with me to advance this legislation.
  I again commend Speaker Pelosi, Chairman Oberstar, and all who have 
worked so diligently to help reduce our dependence on foreign and non-
renewable energy sources.
  With that, I urge adoption of the Energy Independence and Security 
Act.
  Mr. BUYER. Mr. Speaker, this bill is a step in the wrong direction. 
Our current focus should be on rebalancing our energy portfolio and 
responsibly accessing and managing our domestic energy resources to 
decrease our dependence on foreign countries. This legislation does not 
improve our energy security in any way. The included Renewable Fuel 
Standard mandates biofuel production levels which increase our Nation's 
dependence on the same supply source for both our energy and our food. 
Basing laws on unavailable technologies and taxing the industry that 
actually provides energy to the country now, does nothing to decrease 
our dependence on foreign countries' oil and gas.
  I offered an amendment to strike the manufactured language in Sect. 
413 of the bill. The bill in its current form would have detrimental 
effects on the industry, which is a significant contributor to the 
Indiana economy, and it would undoubtedly result in higher manufactured 
home prices for consumers.
  The Department of Housing and Urban Development has an ongoing 
stakeholder process to improve energy efficiency of manufactured 
housing. The HUD process strives for cost-effective efficiency 
standards that add real value for consumers and keep the overall 
product affordable. Section 413 would inject the Department of Energy 
into the process.

[[Page 32495]]

Consumers and manufacturers fear that DOE's ``price-is-no-object'' 
track record on efficiency standards will mean that manufactured 
housing will be priced out of the lower and moderate income markets, 
harming consumers and costing jobs in the industry. Meanwhile, it will 
not help energy efficiency since the alternative, stick-built homes, 
have no national energy standards. Improving the energy efficiency of 
homes is important, and it is necessary that these efforts take into 
account cost criteria as well. The manufactured housing industry is 
already working to meet efficiency standards previously legislated in 
the Manufactured Housing Improvement Act of 2000. This energy bill's 
manufactured housing language would only add confusion by creating a 
duplicative program while simultaneously increasing the price of 
housing.
  At a time when the United States' housing market is unsettled, 
Congress should be making use of every opportunity to assist the 
average American in their dream of homeownership. This energy bill 
would make an affordable housing option unaffordable for many 
Americans.
  The Renewable Portfolio Standard in this bill also concerns me 
acutely. Without regard for the effect it will have on consumers' 
electricity costs, this standard would require States' investor owned 
utilities to meet 15 percent of their power generation with renewable 
energy. Coal is conspicuously absent from the list of acceptable fuels. 
Indiana has a 250 year supply of alternative energy in the form of 
coal. Coal is Indiana's most prevalent energy resource, and I cannot 
support a bill that does not take that into account. I cannot support a 
bill that increases our reliance on foreign countries for energy, 
limits States' access to their own resources, and drives up the costs 
of electricity for hard working Hoosiers when they are already 
shouldering higher gas prices, and home heating costs. Furthermore, the 
bill does not include nuclear energy as an acceptable source. This is 
most confusing because the bill claims to be about addressing 
greenhouse gas emissions, and nuclear energy emits no Carbon Dioxide. 
Responsible Federal policy does not walk all over States' rights, 
disregarding their unique economies and natural resources.
  Democrats declare this bill an answer to rising energy costs, but it 
will only increase energy prices for Americans, and Hoosiers.
  This is bad energy policy for our country. It is bad for consumers' 
pocketbooks, bad for Indiana and bad for my constituents. I urge my 
colleagues to vote no on Senate Amendments to H.R. 6.
  Ms. McCOLLUM of Minnesota. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong 
support of the Energy Independence and Security Act. With this 
legislation, the new Democratic Congress is leading America in a new 
direction on energy policy.
  This is the most significant energy bill in a generation. The House 
is taking a major step toward ending our dependence on foreign oil by 
increasing efficiency standards for cars and trucks for the first time 
in over 30 years. This will reduce America's need for oil by 1.1 
million gallons per day, cut emissions almost 27 million tons per year, 
and save Minnesota families up to $1,000 every year.
  The Energy Independence and Security Act is Congress's most serious 
effort to combat global climate change to date. The bill includes the 
first ever national Renewable Energy Standard requiring utilities to 
generate at least 15 percent of the electricity we use from renewable 
sources, including wind, solar, biomass and geothermal sources. In 
addition, it also implements landmark energy efficiency standards for 
appliances, lighting, and buildings, which will significantly reduce 
our emissions, while saving American families and businesses billions 
of dollars in unnecessary energy costs.
  By setting new priorities, the House can do all this while also 
cutting costs for consumers and creating millions of new high-paying, 
high-skill ``green'' jobs. This legislation repeals $21 billion in 
taxpayer subsidies for highly profitable oil and gas companies and 
redirects these needed resources into developing America's new clean 
energy economy. This money will be invested in research and development 
so that American auto makers will produce the next generation of hybrid 
and electric cars. It will allow 3 million Americans to receive job 
training for new green jobs, and provide assistance for small 
businesses to reap the benefits of this growing industry. It will 
ensure that power plants become cleaner through tax credits for 
investments in clean power and the long overdue implementation of 
carbon capture and sequestration technologies. Moreover, Minnesota 
farmers will benefit from its historic commitment to homegrown 
biofuels--replacing Middle East crude with Midwest crops.
  It is time to make America more secure, more prosperous and more 
environmentally sustainable. I urge my colleagues to join me in 
supporting a new direction in energy policy.
  Mr. TIAHRT. Mr. Speaker, I rise with disappointment in the lack of 
pro-energy and pro-consumer provisions contained in the Democrat energy 
bill being considered on the House floor today. I strongly oppose 
passage of the House Amendment to H.R. 6 and urge my colleagues to join 
me in defeating this bill. We should work in a bipartisan manner to 
pass real solutions for America's growing energy needs.
  The American economy has ups and downs. But overall it continues to 
grow, producing jobs for American workers. To keep pace with our 
economy, more reliable and sustainable sources of energy are needed. 
Conservation, innovative and efficient energy technologies, renewable 
forms of energy and of course traditional sources of energy all must 
play a role in our energy future.
  I am pleased the bill included an increase in fuel efficiency 
standards from 25 miles per gallon to 35 miles per gallon by 2020. As a 
cosponsor of H.R. 2927 that would increase the corporate average fuel 
economy, CAFE, standards for automobiles, I believe we must not waste 
any more time in making our vehicles more fuel efficient. I support 
increasing the CAFE standards and hope we can work together with the 
private sector to achieve this worthy goal.
  Unfortunately, the Democrat's closed-door energy bill containing more 
than 1,000 pages is not the kind of solution the American people 
deserve. Rather than work together to pass a more complete and 
comprehensive plan to address our energy needs, Democrat leadership has 
chosen to forego their pledge to work with Republicans on important 
policy matters. The result is an energy bill that will lead to higher 
electric utility bills, drive up gasoline prices at the pump, 
discriminately raise taxes on manufacturers of domestic energy and 
depress exploration efforts to find additional sources of domestic 
energy.
  The bill fails to include proven, reliable energy production methods 
such as nuclear energy for lowering emissions into our atmosphere. 
Instead, the House Amendment to H.R. 6 mandates a one-size-fits-all 
Renewable Portfolio Standard for some electric utility companies while 
exempting other electric utilities. I support utility companies 
investing in and offering renewable energy to customers, and I support 
incentives for increased production of renewable energy. Many Kansas 
farmers and landowners are already participants in wind and bio fuel 
production, and Kansas has potential to do even more.
  But Congress must exercise great caution when attempting to mandate 
levels of renewable fuels that must be used by electric power 
companies. Many of our Nation's electric companies are presently 
investing billions of dollars in renewable energy projects--not because 
they are mandated by the Federal Government, but because market forces 
have led them to do so. By mandating higher levels of renewable energy 
for power generation than the market naturally supports, ratepayers are 
going to be stuck with higher electric bills.
  I cannot think of a single constituent who has asked me to support 
higher electric bills. This Democrat bill is not an energy solution 
that is good for Kansas, and it is not a good solution for America.
  Great harm will particularly fall upon America's poor and middle 
class customers as a result of increased electric rates. Senior 
citizens who are living on fixed incomes and families on tight budgets 
should not be forced to suffer because of ill-thought Federal mandates 
on select electric utilities and their customers.
  Another section of the House Amendment to H.R. 6 mandates a Federal 
Renewable Energy Standard that will require unrealistic quantities of 
biofuel. For example, the Democrat energy bill mandates that 100 
million gallons of cellulosic biofuel be included in our fuel supply by 
2010. However, commercially viable production of cellulosic fuel is 
only projected to be 27 million gallons by 2010. As a strong supporter 
of cellulosic biofuel, I hope American ingenuity will help us surpass 
current projections. The Federal Government should encourage private-
sector innovation that has long been a hallmark of America's history.
  But the Federal Government should not be mandating on the private 
sector requirements that are not commercially tested and far exceed 
industry projections. Reckless mandates will result in increased fuel 
costs for consumers.
  I am also disappointed that the House Amendment to H.R. 6 contains 
more than $21 billion in tax increases that will negatively impact 
American jobs. By raising taxes on the oil and gas industry, we are 
driving up manufacturing costs making domestic companies less 
competitive. Raising taxes on oil and gas companies will not reduce 
prices at the pump, and

[[Page 32496]]

it certainly will not help ease our dependence on foreign oil. If 
anything, it will make us more dependent on foreign oil and will cause 
energy prices to increase.
  Raising taxes on the energy sector will inevitably be passed to 
consumers at the pump. If the Democrat energy tax increase is passed, 
motorists will consider today's $3 gasoline to be a cheap deal. 
Families and small businesses in Kansas do not want higher fuel costs, 
which is why I refuse to accept a plan that raises the price of 
gasoline.
  By raising billions of dollars through tax increases imposed on the 
oil and gas manufacturing industry, but not raising taxes on other 
manufacturing sectors, Congress picks winners and losers and American 
manufacturing jobs suffer.
  Instead of encouraging more domestic energy exploration, production 
and investment, the Democrat energy bill instead makes these activities 
more expensive for American companies trying to supply America with 
energy.
  This bill is woefully inadequate when it comes to American energy 
independence. It harms consumers by raising energy costs. And it wreaks 
havoc on American manufacturing jobs.
  I urge my colleagues to reject this proposal.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. All time for debate has expired.
  Pursuant to House Resolution 846, the previous question is ordered.
  The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Michigan 
(Mr. Dingell).
  The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that 
the ayes appeared to have it.
  Mr. BOUCHER. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, this 15-
minute vote on the motion to concur will be followed by a 5-minute vote 
on the motion to suspend the rules on H.R. 2085.
  The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--yeas 235, 
nays 181, not voting 16, as follows:

                            [Roll No. 1140]

                               YEAS--235

     Abercrombie
     Ackerman
     Allen
     Altmire
     Andrews
     Arcuri
     Baca
     Baldwin
     Bean
     Becerra
     Berkley
     Berman
     Berry
     Bishop (GA)
     Bishop (NY)
     Blumenauer
     Bono
     Boswell
     Boucher
     Boyda (KS)
     Brady (PA)
     Braley (IA)
     Brown, Corrine
     Butterfield
     Capps
     Capuano
     Cardoza
     Carnahan
     Carney
     Castle
     Castor
     Chandler
     Clarke
     Clay
     Cleaver
     Clyburn
     Cohen
     Conyers
     Cooper
     Costa
     Costello
     Courtney
     Cramer
     Crowley
     Cuellar
     Cummings
     Davis (AL)
     Davis (CA)
     Davis (IL)
     Davis, Lincoln
     DeFazio
     DeGette
     Delahunt
     DeLauro
     Dicks
     Dingell
     Doggett
     Donnelly
     Doyle
     Edwards
     Ellison
     Ellsworth
     Emanuel
     Engel
     Eshoo
     Etheridge
     Farr
     Fattah
     Filner
     Frank (MA)
     Gerlach
     Giffords
     Gillibrand
     Gonzalez
     Gordon
     Green, Al
     Grijalva
     Hall (NY)
     Hare
     Harman
     Hastings (FL)
     Hayes
     Herseth Sandlin
     Higgins
     Hill
     Hinchey
     Hinojosa
     Hirono
     Hodes
     Holden
     Holt
     Honda
     Hoyer
     Inslee
     Israel
     Jackson (IL)
     Jackson-Lee (TX)
     Jefferson
     Johnson (GA)
     Johnson (IL)
     Johnson, E. B.
     Jones (OH)
     Kagen
     Kanjorski
     Kaptur
     Kennedy
     Kildee
     Kilpatrick
     Kind
     Kirk
     Klein (FL)
     Kucinich
     LaHood
     Langevin
     Lantos
     Larsen (WA)
     Larson (CT)
     Lee
     Levin
     Lewis (GA)
     Lipinski
     LoBiondo
     Loebsack
     Lofgren, Zoe
     Lowey
     Lynch
     Mahoney (FL)
     Maloney (NY)
     Markey
     Matheson
     Matsui
     McCarthy (NY)
     McCollum (MN)
     McDermott
     McGovern
     McIntyre
     McNerney
     McNulty
     Meek (FL)
     Meeks (NY)
     Michaud
     Miller (NC)
     Miller, George
     Mitchell
     Mollohan
     Moore (KS)
     Moore (WI)
     Moran (VA)
     Murphy (CT)
     Murphy, Patrick
     Murtha
     Nadler
     Napolitano
     Neal (MA)
     Oberstar
     Obey
     Olver
     Pallone
     Pascrell
     Pastor
     Payne
     Pelosi
     Perlmutter
     Peterson (MN)
     Pomeroy
     Price (NC)
     Rahall
     Ramstad
     Rangel
     Reichert
     Reyes
     Richardson
     Rodriguez
     Ros-Lehtinen
     Ross
     Rothman
     Roybal-Allard
     Ruppersberger
     Rush
     Ryan (OH)
     Salazar
     Sanchez, Linda T.
     Sanchez, Loretta
     Sarbanes
     Schakowsky
     Schiff
     Schwartz
     Scott (GA)
     Scott (VA)
     Serrano
     Sestak
     Shays
     Shea-Porter
     Sherman
     Shuler
     Sires
     Skelton
     Slaughter
     Smith (NJ)
     Smith (WA)
     Snyder
     Solis
     Space
     Spratt
     Stark
     Stupak
     Sutton
     Tanner
     Tauscher
     Taylor
     Thompson (CA)
     Thompson (MS)
     Tierney
     Towns
     Tsongas
     Udall (CO)
     Udall (NM)
     Van Hollen
     Velazquez
     Visclosky
     Walden (OR)
     Walz (MN)
     Wasserman Schultz
     Waters
     Watson
     Watt
     Waxman
     Weiner
     Welch (VT)
     Wexler
     Wilson (OH)
     Woolsey
     Wu
     Wynn
     Yarmuth

                               NAYS--181

     Aderholt
     Akin
     Alexander
     Bachmann
     Bachus
     Baker
     Barrett (SC)
     Barrow
     Bartlett (MD)
     Barton (TX)
     Biggert
     Bilbray
     Bilirakis
     Bishop (UT)
     Blackburn
     Blunt
     Boehner
     Bonner
     Boozman
     Boren
     Boustany
     Boyd (FL)
     Brady (TX)
     Broun (GA)
     Brown (SC)
     Brown-Waite, Ginny
     Buchanan
     Burgess
     Burton (IN)
     Buyer
     Calvert
     Camp (MI)
     Campbell (CA)
     Cannon
     Cantor
     Capito
     Carter
     Chabot
     Coble
     Conaway
     Crenshaw
     Culberson
     Davis (KY)
     Davis, David
     Davis, Tom
     Deal (GA)
     Dent
     Diaz-Balart, L.
     Diaz-Balart, M.
     Doolittle
     Drake
     Dreier
     Duncan
     Ehlers
     Emerson
     English (PA)
     Everett
     Fallin
     Ferguson
     Flake
     Forbes
     Fortenberry
     Fossella
     Foxx
     Franks (AZ)
     Frelinghuysen
     Gallegly
     Garrett (NJ)
     Gingrey
     Gohmert
     Goode
     Goodlatte
     Graves
     Green, Gene
     Hall (TX)
     Hastings (WA)
     Heller
     Hensarling
     Herger
     Hobson
     Hoekstra
     Hulshof
     Hunter
     Inglis (SC)
     Issa
     Johnson, Sam
     Jones (NC)
     Jordan
     Keller
     King (IA)
     King (NY)
     Kingston
     Kline (MN)
     Knollenberg
     Kuhl (NY)
     Lamborn
     Lampson
     Latham
     LaTourette
     Lewis (CA)
     Lewis (KY)
     Linder
     Lungren, Daniel E.
     Mack
     Manzullo
     Marchant
     Marshall
     McCarthy (CA)
     McCaul (TX)
     McCotter
     McCrery
     McHenry
     McHugh
     McKeon
     McMorris Rodgers
     Melancon
     Mica
     Miller (FL)
     Miller (MI)
     Moran (KS)
     Murphy, Tim
     Musgrave
     Myrick
     Neugebauer
     Pearce
     Pence
     Peterson (PA)
     Petri
     Pickering
     Pitts
     Platts
     Poe
     Porter
     Price (GA)
     Pryce (OH)
     Putnam
     Radanovich
     Regula
     Rehberg
     Renzi
     Reynolds
     Rogers (AL)
     Rogers (KY)
     Rogers (MI)
     Rohrabacher
     Roskam
     Royce
     Ryan (WI)
     Sali
     Saxton
     Schmidt
     Sensenbrenner
     Sessions
     Shadegg
     Shimkus
     Shuster
     Simpson
     Smith (NE)
     Smith (TX)
     Souder
     Stearns
     Sullivan
     Tancredo
     Terry
     Thornberry
     Tiahrt
     Tiberi
     Turner
     Upton
     Walberg
     Walsh (NY)
     Wamp
     Weldon (FL)
     Weller
     Westmoreland
     Whitfield
     Wicker
     Wilson (NM)
     Wilson (SC)
     Wolf
     Young (FL)

                             NOT VOTING--16

     Baird
     Carson
     Cole (OK)
     Cubin
     Feeney
     Gilchrest
     Granger
     Gutierrez
     Hooley
     Jindal
     Lucas
     Miller, Gary
     Nunes
     Ortiz
     Paul
     Young (AK)

                              {time}  1531

  So the motion was agreed to.
  The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________