American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009

Floor Speech

AMERICAN CLEAN ENERGY AND SECURITY ACT -- (House of Representatives - June 24, 2009)

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. POLIS. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the American Clean Energy and Security Act. We are on the verge of an historic step that we have a responsibility and an opportunity to take for the health of our environment, our economy, and our Nation.

Opponents simply don't comprehend the magnitude of the problem of global warming or the opportunities that come with the solution. The U.S. is currently losing clean energy jobs and market share to Germany, China, and Korea. U.S. consumers continue to send $400 billion a year to places like the Middle East and Venezuela every time we fill up our gas tanks.

Madam Speaker, we have a responsibility to enact swift and strong climate change legislation. It is absolutely false to suggest that this legislation will cost Americans. It will cost us more if we don't act.

With the consumer protections and increases in efficiencies that this bill puts in place, American families will save hundreds of dollars each over the next decade. Saving consumers money is hardly a tax. Saving businesses money is hardly a tax. Allowing American technology to stagnate while we pollute and pay to address that pollution, that is a tax that the American people are tired of paying and have paid for far too long.

The Democratic plan declares energy independence and puts America on a path to economic recovery.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source