Issue Position: Energy and the Environment

Issue Position

As Speaker of the House, I made energy independence and combating climate change my flagship issue. Energy independence is a moral, environmental, health, economic, and national security issue. We must press for legislation that invests in clean, renewable energy and efficient technologies, reduces transit fares, helps Americans struggling with energy prices, rewards conservation, cracks down on oil speculators and on price gouging, forces Big Oil to "use it or lose it' on federal drilling permits, and transitions American to a new more affordable energy future.

Protecting the environment is vital to protect the health of all Americans, and fighting climate change is one of the greatest challenges facing our nation and global community. I believe we must stand up for fair policies that protect America's environment while allowing for economic opportunity--priorities that can work together.

In his Inaugural Address President Obama gave out the call for us to "harness the sun, and the wind, and soil to fuel our cars and run our factories." The American Clean Energy and Security Act, passed by the House last June, will create clean energy jobs here in America, protect consumers, reduce our dependence on dirty and foreign fuels, and help ensure our national security. We have much common ground with the Senate bill and look forward to its progress.

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