Sheila Jackson Lee: “I want to answer the gentleman's question about ordinary Americans. These are ordinary Americans, some of whom, because…”

“I want to answer the gentleman's question about ordinary Americans. These are ordinary Americans, some of whom, because of the climate change or the inequity in environmental injustice, have faced the wrong side of energy. I want them to face the good side. So not only does the bill establish a clean energy workforce development program to educate and train the next generation of clean energy researchers, scientists, and professionals, but it also protects domestic manufacturing by requiring that any project funded under the act to construct, alter, maintain, or repair a public building or public work only use iron, steel, and manufactured goods produced in the United States. Madam Speaker, this is a new start, but it brings old friends to the table. It brings Houston with the Greater Houston Partnership with a clean energy director who wants to move toward low carbon. It brings energy companies that I questioned during the BP spill that indicated to me they have a huge environmental section in their corporations. We can all work together. I am a strong supporter of the Clean Economy Jobs and Innovation Act because it is going to bring jobs and re-envision America. Madam Speaker, as a senior member of the House Judiciary and Homeland Committees, I rise in strong support of H.R. 4447, the ``Clean Economy Jobs and Innovation Act,'' which makes long-overdue reforms to U.S. energy policy and authorizes major investments in the transition to a low-carbon future.…”