Jay Inslee: “next week we will take up the energy policy bill, which really is going to be one of the most important bills, both from…”

“next week we will take up the energy policy bill, which really is going to be one of the most important bills, both from an energy and from an environmental perspective, in the next 10 years. It is our hope that during the next few days, the majority leadership will fashion a rule which will, in fact, allow environmental considerations in this bill. We definitely need to improve this bill. We need to improve it by increasing the energy efficiency of our automobiles. This bill does not do it. We need to have additional tax incentives for renewable energy and clean conservation technologies. This bill does not do it. We need pipeline safety to make sure pipelines do not explode. This bill does not do it. We need better efficiency standards. Lastly, we ought to make sure we do not drill in the Arctic Refuge. Mr. Speaker, I hope the Speaker will personally use his energy in the majority caucus to make sure we have a fair and honest debate on these very important environmental measures. Next week the House needs to speak on these. Let us give people in America trust in the environment as well as energy next week.”