Political Quotes

“Madam Speaker, we sat here for hours talking about the objectives of legislation to impose a moratorium on offshore energy production. I have heard the advocates for the legislation talk about the objectives of protecting our environment and preventing energy spills of oil. I have heard advocates talk about the objective of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. I have heard objectives discussed regarding creating jobs, perhaps green jobs, and ensuring that we have economic activity here in the United States. Madam Speaker, I share those objectives. This bill doesn't do it. So let's go one by one and address the various objectives and address the facts associated with them. Number one: Madam Speaker, when we stop producing energy domestically, we don't stop using energy. We don't change the form of energy. What happens is, as statistics prove, as the Department of the Interior officials have reported to the Natural Resources Committee, we increase our dependence upon imports from other countries. When you import energy, they have lower environmental standards. You release greater greenhouse gas emissions, and by putting it on a ship, you have a greater chance of spilling the energy. The safest thing you can do is produce it domestically and put it in a pipe. Secondly, Madam Speaker, you have heard the discussion about ruining coastal habitat. You have heard the discussion about ruining coastal communities.…”