Lynn C. Woolsey: “the energy bill conference report before us today is horrible for the consumer, horrible for the environment, and makes…”

“the energy bill conference report before us today is horrible for the consumer, horrible for the environment, and makes America neither energy independent nor more secure as a nation. This conference report does too little to promote renewable energy and energy efficiency. By promoting the interests of corporations over consumers, and pollution over conservation, this bill makes the United States much less secure. America's continued reliance on Middle East oil for the majority of our energy needs is the single largest factor that contributes to our lack of national security. This conference report fails to adequately address our reliance on foreign oil. Worst of all, the conference report includes a huge provision, inserted in the middle of the night after the conference finished its work, to give $1.5 billion to big oil companies from Texas. It would be wrong for anyone who cares about our nation's well-being, or the fight against extremism in the Middle East, to vote for this legislation. I urge my colleagues to join me in voting against it.”