Political Quotes

“I rise today to discuss the Energy Policy Modernization Act. Along with a broad, bipartisan group of my colleagues, I supported this bill as a member of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee. I thank Chairman Murkowski, Ranking Member Cantwell, and their staff for their commitment and hard work in producing a bill that could earn a strong bipartisan vote in the committee. There were other proposals that I would have liked to have seen included in the bill, such as the national Renewable Electricity Standard introduced by Senator Udall, which I cosponsored, and there were other proposals included in the bill that I would not have supported on their own. However, I was willing to support a compromise that provides positive direction for our country in the midst of an energy transformation. Now that the full Senate is considering the bill, I would like to remind my colleagues of the effort that went into reaching this compromise. We should not squander the opportunity before us with amendments that will simply erode bipartisan support for the bill or draw a Presidential veto. So much has changed in how energy is produced and consumed since the Senate passed its last energy bill in 2007. Our country is in the middle of a transformation toward cleaner sources of energy and greater energy efficiency in our vehicles, homes, and businesses. Hawaii is leading the way on many fronts in this transformation.…”