Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2007

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2007 -- (Senate - July 13, 2006)

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Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, this particular amendment, which enjoys wide support here in the Senate, would dramatically increase the availability of alternative energy refueling systems, such as biodiesel, ethanol, and compressed natural gas, by reimbursing eligible entities up to $30,000 for the costs associated with installing these alternative gas pumps.

Like many of my colleagues in the Senate, I believe our Nation's homeland security is directly related to our Nation's energy security. The underlying goal of this amendment is to provide American consumers more opportunities to use American-made alternative fuels as we work to lessen our Nation's dependence upon foreign sources of energy.

As I noted yesterday when I offered this amendment, I am unaware of any opposition to what this amendment attempts and seeks to do. In fact, since I offered the amendment, a number of our colleagues here in the Senate have cosponsored this particular provision.

Additionally, American automakers, such as General Motors and Ford, support this effort, as do various agricultural groups--from the Farm Bureau to the National Corn Growers Association--as well as environmental groups. The reason is very simple. It makes a lot of sense for so many reasons, not the least of which is getting us away from this overdependence of foreign sources of energy. But it is good for the environment. It is good for the American consumer. It is good for the American agricultural producer.

I certainly appreciate the bill managers' patience regarding this amendment. And while I also appreciate the fact that the Homeland Security appropriations bill probably is not the appropriate vehicle to have this amendment considered and discussed, I am greatly encouraged by many of the calls and statements of support for this initiative that I have received since offering it, as well as some new ideas I have received that I hope to explore to make this particular provision even stronger.

So I expect we will revisit this issue. I fully am hopeful we will be able to get a vote in the Senate on this provision. Again, as I said before, I think it is important for our national security because of the direct correlation to energy security. It is also important for our economy. It is important for our environment.

For all those reasons, I intend to offer this amendment at a later time to what I hope will be a debate on an energy bill later this summer. But for the time being, I will withdraw the amendment.

I look forward to working with the chairman and other of my colleagues in the future as we work to get this provision signed into law. I believe it is that important. It is important for the future. Inasmuch as I would like to see it voted on today, I realize in the interest of keeping this debate about the issue at hand and trying to keep ancillary and nongermane business away from it, I will withdraw the amendment and look forward to having it debated at a later time.

So with that, Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the amendment be withdrawn.

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