Political Quotes

“Mr. President, I rise to speak on the nomination of Sara Aviel to be the Alternate Executive Director to the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Had the Senate conducted a recorded vote, I would have voted against Ms. Aviel's nomination. In 2011, the World Bank released a new 10-year energy sector lending strategy which includes a proposal to limit lending for new coal generation projects. I strongly disagree with the World Bank blocking any access to coal-powered energy. Their strategy will drive up energy prices around the world, and will make affordable and reliable energy for poor countries difficult to secure. The World Bank should be focused on poverty reduction and economic growth. Using advanced technologies, coal provides a clean, low cost and reliable energy source which is critical to countries looking for assistance in poverty alleviation and economic development. I believe representatives of the United States at the World Bank should support low cost and dependable energy sources as a means to help countries spur economic growth. Sara Aviel supports the World Bank providing financing for coal power generation but only to the poorest countries when no other options are available. She reiterated this point when I asked her whether she would support the World Bank's financing of a new coal-fired power plant project in Kosovo. She stated: There are a number of compelling reasons in favor of this project.…”