Political Quotes

“Mr. President, I come to the floor today in strong opposition to Amendment No. 115, offered by the junior Senator from Pennsylvania, to strike funding for the Department of Defense's, DoD, Advanced Drop-In Biofuel Production. The intent of this amendment is to further limit the Department of Defense's ability to use alternative fuels to enhance our country's national security. Under the authorities of the Defense Production Act, DPA, the Department of Defense has created the Advanced Drop-In Biofuels Production Project. This initiative is focused on creating a public-private partnership that will provide incentives for private- sector investment in cost competitive, advanced biofuels production capability. It also requires at least a one-to-one cost share with private stakeholders. During consideration of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2013, the Senate demonstrated bipartisan support for DoD's alternative energy initiatives. This amendment would prevent DoD from taking the necessary steps to diversify its energy supply. As chairman of the Banking Committee, which has jurisdiction over the DPA, I believe it is misguided to limit the authority of the Defense Department to continue with this project. As one of the largest consumers of oil in the world, the Department of Defense spent $17 billion in fiscal year 2011 on petroleum-based fuels. When oil prices spike, this dependency forces the Department of Defense to reallocate funding from other critical needs.…”