Political Quotes

“On May 24, 2011, President Obama issued a memorandum on Federal fleet performance that required all new light- duty vehicles in the Federal fleet to be alternative fuel vehicles, such as hybrid, electric, natural gas, or biofuel. My amendment echoes the President's memorandum by prohibiting funds in this act from being used to lease or purchase new light-duty vehicles unless that purchase is made in accord with the President's memorandum. I have submitted identical language to 20 different appropriations bills over the past few years, and every time it has been accepted by both the majority and the minority. I hope my amendment will receive similar support today. Global oil prices are down. We no longer pay $147 per barrel. But spikes in oil prices would still have profound repercussions for our economy. The primary reason is that our cars and trucks run only on petroleum. We can change that with alternative technologies that exist today. The Federal Government operates the largest fleet of light-duty vehicles in America, over 640,000 vehicles. More than 55,000 of those vehicles are within the jurisdiction of this bill, being used by the Department of Energy, the Department of the Interior, and the Army Corps of Engineers. When I was in Brazil a few years ago, I saw how they diversified their fuel use. People there can drive to a gasoline station and choose whether to fill their vehicle with gasoline or ethanol.…”