Sherwood Boehlert: “I do so to express in the strongest possible terms support for the Fox-Skaggs amendment which will restore needed funds…”

“I do so to express in the strongest possible terms support for the Fox-Skaggs amendment which will restore needed funds for energy conservation programs, including low-income weatherization. That is very important, if one comes from the northeast part of the United States. Even with these added funds, the programs will still be funded at significantly lower levels than they were 4 years ago. Now, I know it is not easy to be in the position of the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Regula), as the chairman, to deal with all of the competing requests. I think he has done a magnificent job overall, but I think the bill needs a little tweaking and I would think that he would not mind a little tweaking. These programs are needed now more than ever before. We are actually more dependent today in 1998 on foreign oil than we were at the time of the Arab oil embargo, and we know even more how burning fossil fuels can harm the environment. That is a serious consideration, and we are in a more competitive economic environment, which makes efficiency of the essence. These conservation programs take a sensible approach to addressing those needs.”