Advanced Fuels Infrastructure Research and Development Act
ADVANCED FUELS INFRASTRUCTURE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ACT
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Vermont (Mr. Welch) for yielding me time. He has quickly become an excellent contributor to the Rules Committee.
Mr. Speaker, Federal energy policy has been lagging behind forward-looking States like California. It is now time for the Federal Government to lead America's transformation to a clean energy economy.
Here in Congress, we must enact smart policies that demonstrate a serious commitment to changing the way this Nation produces and consumes energy.
In the House, we took an important first step as part of the 100-hours agenda when we repealed $14 billion in subsidies and incentives for oil companies, and redirected that money to a clean energy fund.
That legislation sent a clear and strong signal to our constituents and to industry. I can tell you that businesses, universities and research institutions in my hometown of Sacramento are enthusiastic about helping America move forward on clean energy technologies.
One of those technologies, biofuels, has tremendous potential to decrease our dependence on foreign oil, and if we are serious about incorporating alternative fuels into the economy, we need to ensure that our infrastructure is compatible with them.
I am a cosponsor of H.R. 547 because it is a commonsense next step on biofuels. Chairman Gordon's legislation will allow for research and development to ensure that alternative fuels, such as E-85, biodiesel and advanced biofuels can be handled by our gas stations and pipelines. This is a smart investment because it makes a lot more sense to modify the existing infrastructure than to rebuild it.
I hope all my colleagues will be able to support this important legislation. But this is just a first step. We know that. Congress must continue to send signals that we are serious about transitioning to a clean energy economy. That means supporting the range of technologies, including clean alternative sources of energy such as wind, solar, geothermal and biomass, as well as energy-efficient technologies for buildings and transportation.
Congress and the administration should not pick winners and losers. There will be no magic bullet. When it comes to research and development, we must hedge our bets.
I look forward to working with my colleagues in the 110th Congress to move toward a clean energy economy effectively and expeditiously. This is the most important domestic priority for Congress and a generational challenge for the Nation. There is absolutely no time to waste.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
http://thomas.loc.gov