Lummis Votes To Protect Wyoming Jobs, Consumers From Energy Tax

Statement

Lummis Votes to Protect Wyoming Jobs, Consumers From Energy Tax

U.S. Representative Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., issued this statement following her vote against the Democrat's national energy tax proposal, H.R. 2454:

"All over the United States, families are struggling to pay their bills and put food on the table," Lummis said. "Nearly 1 in 10 Americans find themselves without a job and nowhere to turn. Instead of finding solutions to create more jobs and ease the economic burden on the American people, congressional Democrats have turned a blind eye to the plight of these people by enacting the largest tax hike in history.

"The national energy tax will lead to higher costs to create energy by American industries and will be passed directly onto the American consumers who use it, disproportionately impacting lower-income families and all working Americans. It will have a devastating impact on the price at the pump and utility bills, and will dramatically hinder the use of Wyoming coal. It will wreak havoc on family budgets, small businesses and family farms.

"Make no mistake, this bill is a job killer. Various studies suggest anywhere from 1.8 million to 7 million American jobs could be lost when energy-intensive facilities and the energy industry they depend on must change the way they do business - or relocate overseas - to meet sweeping new government mandates. Wyoming's energy-based economy will likely be one of the first to suffer from these job losses.

"This bill is being characterized as part of a solution to solve global warming. Yet, even the President's own Council of Economic Advisers' Report says that global carbon dioxide emissions will be virtually unaffected by U.S. carbon reductions unless countries like China and India participate - and they've given no indication that they will.

"Supporters of this bill claim that ‘just saying no' to this particular bill is tantamount to ignoring our commitment to protect the health and welfare of the American people. This accusation depends on the assumption that the bill before us today is the only option we have to address climate change. This is simply untrue. There is a better way.

"I support an alternative plan, the ‘American Energy Act,' which will create jobs, protect our environment and lower energy prices. Our bill will increase domestic energy supplies and create new jobs by easing restrictions on building zero-emission nuclear power, producing on the Arctic Coastal Plain, the Outer Continental Shelf, and oil shale in the Mountain West. Revenues generated through domestic production will then be used to support innovation in renewable and alternative energy sources, like wind and solar technologies, energy efficiency measures, and emerging technologies like carbon capture and sequestration.

"This plan encourages innovation within the energy market to create the renewable fuel options and energy careers of tomorrow. It promotes greater conservation and efficiency by providing incentives for easing energy demand and creating a cleaner, more sustainable environment."

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