American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009

Floor Speech

AMERICAN CLEAN ENERGY AND SECURITY ACT OF 2009 -- (House of Representatives - June 26, 2009)

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Ms. DeGETTE. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of this important energy and environmental legislation, probably the most important this body has ever considered.

And I will say to my friends who say it's not enough, that we need to remember how important it is for us to put together a framework in place so that we can assure energy independence and create jobs.

In Colorado, Madam Speaker, in 2004, our voters passed a renewable energy standard, the first time that it was done in any State by ballot initiative. Industry opposed it universally, but yet it passed 53-47 percent. That standard was 10 percent by 2015, and we exceeded that standard within 2 years. Two years later, we came back to the Colorado Legislature. We doubled that standard. It was bipartisan and industry supported it.

When people see the wonderful framework we are putting in place today for energy independence, which will create jobs, they will embrace this concept. They will embrace the concept of becoming independent from foreign oil and making sure that we develop clean alternative sources of energy, which are going to benefit our children and our children's children.

One last thing. According to the Congressional Budget Office, this bill will cost the typical family less than that of a postage stamp per day.

And I will say, once we develop these clean alternative energy sources, we will benefit, because we will regain our place in the world as a leader in technology and as a leader in clean alternative sources of energy.

I want to urge my colleagues to support this legislation, which relies on scientific evidence to set our Nation's policy.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source