Haley Stevens: “the fuel economy compromise that I filed yesterday, as now amended, is a step toward addressing our energy crisis. I…”

“the fuel economy compromise that I filed yesterday, as now amended, is a step toward addressing our energy crisis. I thank my dear friend chairman Inouye and his staff for working across the aisle to ensure a bipartisan measure. I support the notion articulated by the President in his State of the Union Address that we need to modernize the Nation's fuel economy program, and save a significant amount of fuel over the next decade. I believe the provision we now consider would effectuate that policy goal in a thoughtful and functional way. Once again, our Nation stands at a crossroads in our history. The United States faces an energy crisis, but we find ourselves trapped in a vicious cycle which will only make its consequences more severe. While our Nation is blessed with enormous natural resource potential, inconsistent government policies discourage their exploration and development. As a direct result, the amount of oil imported each year is increasing, and our Federal lands, including those in my home State of Alaska, are being withdrawn from oil and gas development and exploration. These policies have been--and will continue to be detrimental to our national security and long-term environmental economic health. The time has come for those of us in Congress, as the custodians of the public trust, to make the difficult energy policy decisions that will serve to benefit future generations.”