Clay Higgins: “I rise today in objection to H.R. 6, the Energy bill under consideration by the full House of Representatives this week.…”

“I rise today in objection to H.R. 6, the Energy bill under consideration by the full House of Representatives this week. Sadly, the energy bill does little to reduce our nation's dependence on foreign oil, decrease rising oil and gas prices, increase our national security, protect our environment, or encourage investment in renewable energy sources. In fact, Mr. Chairman, of the $8 billion in tax breaks in this bill, only about 6 percent goes toward energy efficiency and renewable sources of energy, and the rest goes to the already booming oil and natural gas industry that already receives more than generous incentives. And we're not getting anything back from this disproportionate investment. The Administration's own Energy Information Administration acknowledges that with this bill, ``changes to production, consumption, imports, and prices are negligible.'' They even find that gasoline prices under this legislation would increase by between three and eight cents per gallon. Clearly, this measure is a short sighted political move aimed at winning friends and contributors instead of what it should be--a long term plan to ease the energy burden on consumers and make the United States safer and energy independent--and that's a shame. As a member of the Committee on Government Reform's Subcommittee on Energy and Natural Resources, I know all too well how energy needs shape our foreign policy and our national security agenda.…”