Norvell Emerson: “first I really want to commend the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Knollenberg) for the tremendous job he has done in…”

“first I really want to commend the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Knollenberg) for the tremendous job he has done in taking the lead on this issue and also say that, as one who has been working fervently to make certain that the Kyoto Protocol is not implemented through the back door, I will say that I can live with this amendment, because I know that we are working in a bipartisan manner to ensure that the administration cannot implement the unratified Kyoto Protocol. I, too, have some concerns about clarifying the meaning and intent of the exact language used in this amendment, and I am hopeful that as we work through the process in a bipartisan way, we can get this figured out, at least in conference. But let me say for the record, Mr. Chairman, that the Senate does stand on record with the unanimous bipartisan vote of 95 to 0 that called on the administration not to sign the Kyoto Protocol, for lots of reasons, because it is going to harm our economy in rural America; because it lets off the hook some of our largest trade competitors, like China, India, Mexico and many others who, quite frankly, will in the next few years be competing with us on somewhat of a level playing field, but yet they will not have to abide by any of the emissions restrictions that this protocol would have us do here in the United States. I am also worried because it is projected to throw about 2.5 million Americans out of work.…”