Hilda L. Solis: “I want to tell you that I am in opposition to the Energy Policy Act of 2005. In my opinion, the bill does nothing to…”

“I want to tell you that I am in opposition to the Energy Policy Act of 2005. In my opinion, the bill does nothing to reduce our dependency on foreign oil. It does not reduce gas prices. It does not make our Nation more secure. Instead, the bill will increase gas prices for consumers in California, where I come from, by requiring the increased use of ethanol. It threatens our water supply by rolling back the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Clean Water Act, and a trade-off I do not find acceptable at all. It overrides our States rights to oppose drilling offshore by including language requiring an inventory. Mr. Speaker, I commend my colleagues for choosing not to include MTBE safe harbor provisions in the bill, but that alone does not guarantee that this is a good bill. The bill is a missed opportunity. I do not support this legislation. And I know we must continue this debate on cleaning up our environment and protecting our consumers.”