We Must Ensure That The United States Is At The Forefront Of The Energy Revolution

Floor Speech

We Must Ensure That The United States Is At The Forefront Of The Energy Revolution

Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to continue to remind my colleagues about the energy crisis we are experiencing in our country. While oil is currently trading at some $69.21 per barrel today, it was at $147 in July of 2008, when we all remember gas prices at over $4 a gallon. We must address our energy problems as we continue to address our economic problems. By doing so, we can ensure that while our economy recovers, we will be competitive and secure in the energy sector as well.

As such, I was pleased that my bill, H.R. 3165, the Wind Energy Research and Development Act of 2009, passed this body last week. I would like to thank my colleagues from both sides of the aisle for their support on my first piece of legislation that passed this full body. We must continue to promote energy efficiency, to drill and mine efficiency as we previously drilled for oil and mined coal. We must also enact policies that promote clean energy jobs and the deployment of renewables.

Finally, as my bill did last week, we must continue to invest in research and development to ensure that the United States is at the forefront of the energy revolution.

Source