[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 12]
[House]
[Page 16062]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 AMERICAN CLEAN ENERGY AND SECURITY ACT

  (Mr. POLIS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. POLIS. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the 
American Clean Energy and Security Act. We are on the verge of an 
historic step that we have a responsibility and an opportunity to take 
for the health of our environment, our economy, and our Nation.
  Opponents simply don't comprehend the magnitude of the problem of 
global warming or the opportunities that come with the solution. The 
U.S. is currently losing clean energy jobs and market share to Germany, 
China, and Korea. U.S. consumers continue to send $400 billion a year 
to places like the Middle East and Venezuela every time we fill up our 
gas tanks.
  Madam Speaker, we have a responsibility to enact swift and strong 
climate change legislation. It is absolutely false to suggest that this 
legislation will cost Americans. It will cost us more if we don't act.
  With the consumer protections and increases in efficiencies that this 
bill puts in place, American families will save hundreds of dollars 
each over the next decade. Saving consumers money is hardly a tax. 
Saving businesses money is hardly a tax. Allowing American technology 
to stagnate while we pollute and pay to address that pollution, that is 
a tax that the American people are tired of paying and have paid for 
far too long.
  The Democratic plan declares energy independence and puts America on 
a path to economic recovery.

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