Mike Conaway: “Everyone in this House would sleep much easier at night if our airplanes flew on sunbeams and our ships steamed on…”

“Everyone in this House would sleep much easier at night if our airplanes flew on sunbeams and our ships steamed on rainbows, but they don't. They use diesel, and diesel they must have if they are to continue to protect this Nation. I rise today in strong support of this amendment to lift the restrictions on the military's procurement of alternative fuels enshrined in section 526 of the Energy Independence and Security Act. I would also like to thank my colleagues, Mr. Flores and Mr. Hensarling, for their work with me on this issue. Section 526 prohibits the military from purchasing alternative fuel products that have ``life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions''--that's a mouthful--that are ``less than or equal to such emissions from conventional fuel.'' Mr. Chair, this prohibition makes no sense to me. Several months ago, Secretary of the Navy Mabus said: Our dependence on foreign sources of fossil fuel is rife with danger for our Nation, and it would be irresponsible to continue it. Paying for spikes in oil prices means we may have less money to spend on readiness, which includes procurement. We could be using that money for more hardware and more platforms. {time} 1600 If protecting fuel supply lines and avoiding price volatility are truly the goals of the military--and I do believe that these are worthy objectives--then lifting the restrictions imposed by section 526 should be a no-brainer.…”