[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 11]
[House]
[Page 14807]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




         THE REPUBLICAN ANSWER TO THE ENERGY CHALLENGES WE FACE

  (Mr. PENCE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PENCE. The American economy is hurting. Gasoline prices are on 
the rise. Utility rates threaten to go higher, imposing even greater 
hardship on working families. The American people are looking for 
answers in these times to the challenges we face in energy. The 
Democrat answer you have just heard is a national energy tax that will 
lead to higher energy prices and massive job losses for the American 
people.
  The President said it best a year ago when he said, if the cap-and-
trade plan were to pass, utility rates--his words now--would, quote, 
necessarily skyrocket.
  Some estimates suggest job losses between 1.8 and 7 million. Well, 
Republicans have a better plan, the American Energy Act. It's an all-
of-the-above plan that offers energy independence, more jobs and a 
cleaner environment without imposing a national energy tax. Our energy 
solution focuses on more domestic exploration for oil and natural gas, 
a renewed commitment to build 100 nuclear power plants in the next 20 
years, investments in renewables, alternative energy technologies and 
creating incentives for conservation. You can read all about it on the 
editorial page of the Wall Street Journal today.
  The American people want energy independence and a cleaner 
environment without a national energy tax. The American Energy Act 
offered by House Republicans is the answer the American people are 
looking for.

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