On May 24, 2011, President Obama issued a memorandum on Federal fleet performance that requires all new light- duty vehicles in the Federal fleet to be alternate fuel vehicles--such as hybrid, electric, natural gas, or biofuel--by December 31, 2015. My amendment echoes the Presidential memorandum by prohibiting funds in the Financial Services Appropriations Act from being used to lease or purchase new light-duty vehicles except in accord with the President's memorandum. This amendment has been supported by the majority and minority on appropriations bills eight times over the past few years, and I hope it will receive similar support today. Our transportation sector is, by far, the biggest reason we send $600 billion per year to hostile nations to pay for oil at ever-increasing costs, but America doesn't need to be dependent on foreign sources of oil for transportation fuel. Alternative technologies exist today that, when implemented broadly, will allow any alternative fuel to be used in America's automotive fleet. The Federal Government operates the largest fleet of light-duty vehicles in America. According to GSA, there are over 660,000 vehicles in the Federal fleet. By supporting a diverse array of vehicle technologies in our Federal fleet, we will encourage development of domestic energy resources, including biomass, natural gas, agricultural waste, hydrogen, renewable electricity, methanol, and ethanol.…
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H. Res. 189 is a very important resolution. I support it and encourage my colleagues to do so as well. I think that both sides of the aisle understand how important this is, and it is good to see us working together. Mr. Speaker, I yield…
H. Res. 697 is a strong measure that encourages the continuation of close engagement between the United States and Tibet. I therefore urge Members to support it, and I reserve the balance of my time.
I urge a ``yes'' vote, and I yield back the balance of my time. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel) that the House suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res…
H. Res. 697 is a strong measure that encourages the continuation of close engagement between the United States and Tibet. I reserve the balance of my time.





