American Clean Energy And Security Act Of 2009

Floor Speech

AMERICAN CLEAN ENERGY AND SECURITY ACT OF 2009

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Mr. GRAVES. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to the energy tax recklessly being forced through the legislative process only to harm small business owners, farmers, and families in Missouri.

As a 6th generation farmer I can tell you that it is an extremely energy intensive practice. Sixty-five percent of a farmer's costs are dedicated to electricity, fuel, fertilizer, and chemicals; even a slight increase in costs would have a damaging effect on farmers.

When it comes to rising fuel prices, we farmers drive trucks because we have to haul stuff. I would challenge any of my colleagues to come to Missouri and try doing farm chores in a Prius.

Those claiming this bill benefits agriculture don't know a thing about the business. Agriculture producers are price takers on both ends of the equation. It is one of the few industries in the world that purchases its inputs at retail to sell its end product at wholesale.

Farmers have very little ability to pass their own costs onto their customers and even those costs that agriculture producers can pass on will mean only one thing: higher food prices for American families.

Rising food prices will be an indirect tax imposed on American families by this Cap and Tax bill and its effects won't just be confined to agriculture. Business everywhere will be confronted by a new dueling reality of seeing their own energy costs rise and the disposable income of their customers fall. All this can accomplish is to restrain future economic growth and lead to long-term joblessness.

That is if there are any jobs left. None of the regulations or increased costs in this bill will be shouldered by our trading partners and competitors. How can we expect our businesses to remain competitive and create jobs when we are imposing new taxes not only on those same businesses, but their customers as well?

Let's be honest with ourselves. This legislation is nothing more than a thinly veiled attempt to address climate change, while its actual goal is to direct more taxpayer dollars to the government coffers to fund a big government agenda, including the federal takeover of health care.

Today I strongly urge my colleagues to stand with me. It is irresponsible of Congress to use taxation as an answer to our nation's challenges. Voting against this bill will demonstrate your willingness to work together towards real energy solutions for our future and our children's future.

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