Conference Report on H.R. 6, Energy Policy Act of 2005
CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 6, ENERGY POLICY ACT OF 2005 -- (House of Representatives - July 28, 2005)
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this energy bill. The American people need and deserve an energy policy that will reduce energy prices, reduce our dependence on foreign oil, and reduce pollution. This bill is not the answer.
While it is an improvement over the House bill, it is not good enough for the American people. Several of the most egregious provisions have been removed, thanks to the tireless work of the Democratic Members who served on the conference committee. And I thank them for their contribution.
We kept the heat on the MTBE give-away and the massive roll-back of the Clean Air Act until they were withdrawn. We fought to protect the Arctic National Refuge, making it too hot for the Republicans to handle--forcing them to withdraw from the energy bill their plan to drill in the pristine wilderness.
Nonetheless, like its predecessors, this energy bill is a missed opportunity. It does not address the issues that the American people care about--lower gas prices at the pump, a healthy environment, safe water to drink, and cleaner air. This bill is still anti-taxpayer, anti-environment, and anti-consumer.
It is anti-taxpayer with billions of dollars in gifts to the oil, gas, and nuclear industries, including a new production tax credit for eight years. There are some subsidies for emerging clean energy technologies, such as renewable energy and hybrid vehicles, but not nearly enough, especially compared to the give-away for the established energy industries.
Then there is the special gift for the gentleman from Texas, the House Majority Leader. After the gavel went down on the energy bill conference, a provision was included that sets up a special $1.5 billion fund for the oil industry to conduct research on how to find oil, and a leading contender to host the consortium is Sugar Land, Texas. Consortium members, including Halliburton and Marathon Oil, can receive awards from the fund.
There you have it: big oil, Halliburton, and TOM DELAY, all in one neat symbolic package.
At a time when Congress is trying to scrape together enough Federal funding for veterans' health care, Social Security, education, Medicare, and Medicaid, why are we giving away taxpayer money hand over fist to well-established, profitable companies?
Some of these energy companies are not simply profitable. The major oil companies are raking in such enormous profits that they do not know what to do with it all. The top three oil companies (Exxon Mobil, BP, and Royal Dutch Shell) are expected to post a new record profit of $60 billion this year, while this quarter's profits are 40 percent better than last year.
Mr. Speaker, this bill is anti-environmental. It authorizes an oil and gas inventory of the Outer Continental Shelf, opening the door to oil and gas drilling in the protected areas off our shores. The House has more than once soundly voted to reject this proposal. Coastal Members from both sides of the aisle know that our beautiful beaches, shores and fisheries are priceless and should not be put at risk. But despite our best efforts, Republicans insisted on keeping the inventory in this bill.
The energy bill carves out exemptions for the oil and gas industry from the Safe Drinking Water Act, and the Clean Water Act. It is loaded with provisions that override local and State authority in favor of Federal authority. It gives the Federal Government the right to condemn land to build electric power lines. It gives the Federal Government the right to decide where gas pipelines and liquefied natural gas facilities will be built. It weakens States' rights to protect their own coastlines from oil and gas exploration.
Last but not least, the energy bill is anti-consumer. It fails to protect consumers from high gasoline prices. It fails to adequately protect consumers from price manipulations and future Enrons. And it fails to protect our national security by reducing our dependence on foreign oil.
Let there be no mistake. This bill is still anti-taxpayer, anti-environment, and anti-consumer. I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on the conference report.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
http://thomas.loc.gov