María Elvira Salazar: “I know for most of the day today we have been speaking about the importance of the 2007 farm bill, which is about food…”

“I know for most of the day today we have been speaking about the importance of the 2007 farm bill, which is about food, about fiber, and about our fuel security. It is a very important piece of legislation. We are very hopeful we will be able to get a farm bill completed very soon that can then go to the President for his signature. I wish to spend a few minutes talking about another piece of legislation which many of us have spent a great deal of time working on over the last year under the leadership of Senator Bingaman; and that is the Energy bill which came through this Chamber with a very significant, bipartisan vote and which is a very good bill that moves us forward into the new era of a clean energy economy for the United States that will help us lead the world on how we can embrace the clean energy economy for our country. From my point of view, when I look at the reasons why we need to move forward with this clean energy economy, it comes down to three very simple reasons. The first is our national security, the second is our environmental security, and the third is the economic opportunities for our country.”