Joe Barton: “I wish to say as I rise in opposition that I am in total support of the Dean of the House, the gentleman from Michigan…”

“I wish to say as I rise in opposition that I am in total support of the Dean of the House, the gentleman from Michigan, in his efforts to help develop a comprehensive energy plan for our country, but I cannot support this particular motion to recommit. It is true that some elements of the motion to recommit would be helpful. There is an increase in civil fines for wrongdoing, but that is already in the pending bill that is before us. In fact, the bill that is before us would increase the fine to $1 million. The pending bill before us bans round trip trades. The gentleman's motion to recommit does not ban round trip trades. The pending bill before us would encourage the development and siting of new transmission lines. The motion to recommit does not do that. The pending bill before us protects native load in those States that wish to do that. The gentleman's motion to recommit does not protect native load. The pending bill repeals the Public Utility Holding Company Act so we get more capital into our energy markets. That is one area where the gentleman from Michigan and I have a policy difference. He does totally oppose the repeal of PUHCA, and that is just an honest difference of opinion. The pending bill before us would reform PURPA, which allows cogeneration facilities to sell their surplus electricity into the power grid. The motion to recommit does not do that. There is no provision in the motion to recommit for clean coal technology.”