Byron Dorgan: “I wished to talk for a moment on the subject of energy policy. This week is our last week prior to the August break, and…”

“I wished to talk for a moment on the subject of energy policy. This week is our last week prior to the August break, and it is a very important week. We will likely see on the floor of the Senate the Clean Energy Jobs and Oil Company Accountability Act that was brought to the floor by the majority leader, Senator Reid. I wish to commend him for what he has proposed. He has proposed a piece of legislation that includes a number of very important issues, including issues that deal with the oil spill and oil companies' accountability for the Deepwater Horizon spill, issues that will enhance the use of natural gas in our truck fleet in this country, provisions for electric vehicles and infrastructure, provisions that will provide substantial consumer savings in the HOME Star Program, and provisions to protect the environment and create substantial new jobs. But I wished to also say that this is but a first chapter of the book of energy changes that are essential to this country's future.”