On the recordJune 10, 2010
this debate is not about the overreach of an agency because indeed this Congress charged EPA with responding to threats to our atmosphere that endanger the public health of our citizens. We asked them to do that because we know that if it was decided on this floor piece by piece, it would be politics over policy. So we gave them the responsibility to respond to lead, to respond to mercury, to respond to global warming gases, and they are exercising that responsibility in a very moderate fashion. Second, this is about science because this resolution does not say we accept the science but we are going to change the way we respond to it. It doesn't say that. It says we reject the science. It says we reject the endangerment findings to the public health of our citizens. Third, this is about big oil. Have no doubt, this resolution increases our dependence on the Middle East and Venezuela to the tune of an enormous amount, so much that you would have to drive a car around the Equator 10 million times to consume that oil. It is wrong for our national security and wrong for our economy, and if you have any doubt, take a look at the impassioned plea from the oil industry, saying: Please, don't pass this. Why do they not want us to pass this? They want to sell us that gas from the Middle East and Venezuela and drive a car around the Equator 10 million times or the equivalent across America.
