[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 8]
[House]
[Pages 11286-11287]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                             ENERGY SAVINGS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from California (Mr. George Miller) is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, Democrats have fought 
to bring America's addiction to oil to the forefront of our national 
attention for years. We must reduce our dependence on oil in order to 
stimulate the economy, to protect our country and to curb the harmful 
effects of global warming.
  Since Democrats gained control of the Congress last year, we raised 
automobile fuel efficiency standards for the first time in over a 
quarter of a century, despite the opposition of President Bush.
  And the House recently passed a comprehensive renewable energy bill. 
Our renewable energy bill will reduce America's dependence on oil. It 
will lower energy costs, protect the environment, and create hundreds 
of thousands of new skilled green jobs all across America.
  While Congress is working hard to reduce our oil dependence, my 
constituents are working hard to do their part to battle rising energy 
prices and reduce their own carbon footprint.
  I recently asked my constituents to tell me what they were doing to 
reduce their personal energy consumption and to reduce the cost of 
energy in their monthly lives, and I promised that I would share some 
of these best ideas right here on the House floor.
  Here are some of the comments I've received so far. Many of my 
constituents are already following some of the more conventional but 
important methods of energy conservation, including replacing 
traditional light bulbs with compact fluorescent lights, unplugging 
appliances that aren't in use, drying clothes outside in the California 
sun. Many more are taking advantage of public transportation options 
throughout Northern California and the San Francisco Bay area.
  Patricia Kneisler of Benicia, California, gangs all of her errands 
together. By doing this, as she says, her ``gas guzzler,'' the 1995 
SUV, is only used when absolutely necessary and in the most efficient 
manner.
  Gina Hale's family in Pittsburg, California, attached ultraviolet 
blocking

[[Page 11287]]

film on all of the house's windows to cut down on air conditioning 
costs during the summer.
  Melissa Miller of Concord, California runs her dishwasher only when 
it is full and at night when the electricity rates go down after 7 p.m.
  I have posted on my Web site sources of information about how 
consumers can reduce their energy consumption and save money and help 
protect the environment. I invite you to visit my Web site. While 
you're there, post
your own comments about your ideas
of saving energy. It's at www.georgemiller.house.gov.
  Small changes have big impacts. Not only are my constituents reducing 
their own energy bills, but they're also contributing to our future 
energy independence.
  Mr. Speaker, Congress can and must continue to support all of the 
individuals who are working to reduce energy consumption. We must work 
to pass legislation that invests in renewable energy, encourages 
innovation and investment in green technology and supports the creation 
of green jobs.
  Congress is obligated to move America into the future, into a modern 
energy policy, and stop the reliance on the past fossil fuels policy 
that has kept this country in bondage to the oil companies and to the 
suppliers from overseas. Our economy and our environment depend upon 
it.
  It is a tragedy that President Bush and 12 years of a Republican 
Congress stood in the way of energy independence, stood in the way of a 
modern energy program. While the President told the Nation and Congress 
that we're addicted to oil, he did nothing to alter that addiction--
nothing other than to call for more oil drilling. Spoken like a true 
addict.
  Now is the time to move forward. The price of gas and oil is at a 
crisis to America's families, and we must act quickly and boldly to 
come to grips with this crisis.
  Our future depends upon reducing our demand for oil, increasing 
energy efficiency, and providing sustainable energy sources to relieve 
consumers of the crippling energy costs that invade their lives on a 
daily basis and to stimulate the next generation of innovation.
  I appreciate the contributions of my constituents, and I look forward 
to hearing from more of them and to bring them to the attention of the 
House to see what decisions they're making about reducing energy costs 
in their personal daily lives.

                          ____________________