Debbie Dingell: “The United States needs an energy policy for the 21st century. We need to reduce our reliance on Middle East oil and…”

“The United States needs an energy policy for the 21st century. We need to reduce our reliance on Middle East oil and increase our energy independence. Unfortunately, this Republican conference report completely fails to do any of this. We need an energy policy for 2003, but the plan we have before us was designed for 1973. The authors of this plan act as if reliance on foreign oil, climate change, and the need for energy conservation are of no consequence. The plan gives billions of dollars to the oil and gas industries so that our Nation will continue to rely on the Middle East for petroleum. It does nothing to encourage energy conservation. It does nothing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It does nothing to encourage investment in renewable energy, a technology that was new and exciting in the 1970s and, with proper congressional support, could finally be part of our energy infrastructure in the future. It is our duty as Congresspeople to lead and not follow. Sadly, this conference report is not forward-looking. I must vote 'no' on this energy bill because it is nothing more than a whole lot of yesterday.”