Jackie Speier: “I commend the chairwoman of the Financial Services Committee and the committee's efforts to support exports in renewable…”

“I commend the chairwoman of the Financial Services Committee and the committee's efforts to support exports in renewable energy and energy-efficiency technology. My amendment makes clear that when it comes to supporting domestic businesses exporting green energy technology, electric vehicles need to be near the top of that list. It quite simply states that ``energy efficiency'' includes electric vehicles as well as the batteries and the charging infrastructure needed to make them move. Electric vehicles are good for the environment; they are good for the economy; and they are good for our national security. Zero-emission electric vehicles will help combat the climate crisis. Since transportation accounts for 15 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, electric vehicles are critical for the future of clean energy. Electric vehicles also present a huge opportunity for the U.S. economy. We now know that 4 million jobs in the auto industry are reliant on us continuing to build new innovation. We will lose hundreds of thousands of jobs if we don't recognize the importance of building more electric vehicles. The global market will be a strong growth sector, and letting the rest of the world beat us out will cost us mightily in economic prosperity and domestic manufacturing. Though the United States was home to the first highway-ready all- electric car, the Tesla Roadster, Chinese competitors have outpaced us and are poised to dominate the market.…”