Earl Blumenauer: “I do not mean to belabor this. I have great respect for the skills, the great skills, of the chair of the Energy and…”

“I do not mean to belabor this. I have great respect for the skills, the great skills, of the chair of the Energy and Commerce Committee. But it is just laughable to suggest that this is not your bill if you think you ought to dictate to the American public that you have to drive a car that gets 55 miles to the gallon, as if that were the only choice. A meaningful choice to raise CAFE standards the way other countries have done to their great advantage. That would have made more choices available to the American public and is something that is within our power, that we could do. It has nothing to do with forcing Americans to drive a car that gets 55 miles to the gallon. But the lack of a meaningful policy dealing with vehicle efficiency means that it is very difficult. There is a huge waiting list. It took me 6 months to get a hybrid SUV. We are dropping the ball here. As to the notion that this is the best opportunity in terms of renewable energy, talk to the people in the industry who are ready, willing and able. Ask them if it is the best bill ever. That is not what I hear from people in this industry. I respectfully disagree. Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Let me just say in conclusion that I have great respect for Chairman Barton and Ranking Member Dingell. They have worked very hard on this bill. I think it is a better bill that is before us than the one that we passed here in the House.…”