On the recordJuly 18, 2013
I would respond to my colleague, that is exactly what I am saying. Here we are, a major coal-producing State. We are one of 14 States that meet all ambient air quality requirements. We are No. 1 in surface reclamation, land reclamation--No. 1 in the country. We are rated right at the top in terms of our water and saving our lakes and protecting our water programs. That is the point the Senator is making. That is the point I try to make all the time. With a States-first approach, States are the ones that can not only encourage that investment but take tremendous pains to make sure they are protecting the environment, growing the economy, and taking care of people who live in those States as well. That is why what we need to do to truly have an ``all of the above'' energy plan for this country is to empower States and empower that investment that we are talking about for all types of energy. Do not say ``all of the above'' as a Federal Government and then come up with regulations that prevent, block, preclude the very investment we need to deploy these technologies and produce energy from coal and other sources.
