Today we should all be claiming victory on the landmark energy bill the House passed. Increased CAFE standards, a Renewable Energy Standard, and no new taxpayer-guaranteed loans for nuclear power – measures that we've been fighting hard for - have ALL made it into the final bill. As you know, the bill also contains tax credits and subsidies for solar, wind, biofuels and other renewable sources of energy.
This bill reflects the biggest shift in energy policy we have seen in decades; because of what it includes and what it doesn’t include.
Pressure from the online community and Democratic freshmen members who were elected with a clear mission to reduce our dependence on foreign oil, fight skyrocketing energy prices, and protect the environment helped make this happen.
I want to point out that we have worked as a team to get this done. The following members of Congress, many of them freshmen who you worked so hard to elect, have come together to work to make this day happen:
• Paul Hodes (D-NH02)
• Jerry McNerney (D-CA11)
• Keith Ellison (D-MN05)
• Michael Arcuri (D-NY24)
• Timothy Walz (D-MN01)
• Ed Perlmutter (D-CO07)
• John Sarbanes (D-MD03)
• Steve Kagen (D-WI08)
• Carol Shea-Porter (D-NH01)
• Patrick Murphy (D-PA08)
• Christopher Murphy (D-CT05)
• Hank Johnson (D-GA04)
• Joe Courtney (D-CT02)
• Joe Sestak (D-PA07)
• Yvette Clarke (D-NY11)
• Kathy Castor (D-FL11)
• Heath Shuler (D-NC11)
• Harry Mitchell (D-AZ05)
What does all this mean? It means this bill gives us a historic opportunity to make landmark changes in our energy policy that will help end our addiction to foreign oil while fighting global warming. Raising fuel economy standards will help us escape the grip of Middle Eastern oil, reduce tailpipe emissions, and give drivers a break at the gas pump. The renewable energy standard will allow us to fight global warming and jumpstart a green energy boom that will create thousands of jobs and billions in investment here at home.
I just wanted to update everyone on this bill and to say that I am proud of what we have achieved here. It's now up to you to keep the pressure on the Senate to pass this historic bill.