Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act --Continued

Floor Speech

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Mr. BENNET. Mr. President, I have come to the floor to discuss the Roberts side-by-side amendment. I support several provisions in Senator Roberts' amendment, but, crucially, others miss the mark.

One provision that gives me particular concern relates to the development of oil shale resources in the Rocky Mountain West. I believe we need to take a more cautious approach to oil shale development.

This type of energy development could have enormous implications for Colorado's scarce water supplies and our farming and ranching heritage.

That is why, over the years, a great diversity of voices--from the Rocky Mountain Farmers Union to the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel Editorial Board--have raised concerns over plans to accelerate oil shale development on public land. Yet this amendment would do exactly that.

Mr. President, there are other provisions in the Roberts amendment that are certainly worthy of support. I hope to work with the Senator from Kansas as we continue the discussion about where to make wise investments in our Tax Code and elsewhere.

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Mr. BENNET. Mr. President, I rise to express my support for the Menendez-Burr amendment, No. 1782, dealing with natural gas vehicles. We have an opportunity today to reduce our dependence on foreign oil by diversifying our vehicle fleet to run on a fuel that is not made from crude oil.

The Menendez-Burr amendment--which I cosponsor-- would make smart investments designed to spur greater production of vehicles that run on natural gas. Advances in technology have unlocked new reserves of natural gas in this country. And we ought to be using this resource--which burns cleaner than any other fossil fuel--to power a greater share of our economy.

Natural gas is a domestic resource that we now have in relative abundance. Its development has driven economic growth in Colorado and across the Nation. Passage of the Menendez-Burr amendment would create even more economic opportunities by building and retrofitting vehicles to run on natural gas.

To be sure, natural gas alone is not going to solve our problems. We need to focus on continued increases in vehicle efficiency. We have recently made great strides in that arena.

We also need to be sure we are developing natural gas in an environmentally responsible way. Colorado has been a leader on this point--with the strongest rules in the Nation--in ensuring that natural gas development protects communities and drinking water. Nationally more needs to be done to protect those living adjacent to development. I think all States should look to our rules in Colorado as a national model.

In short, this amendment will diversify our vehicle fleet, drive continued economic growth in the energy sector, and clean up our air--all while reducing our dependence on foreign oil. I urge my colleagues to support the Menendez-Burr amendment when it comes for a vote later today.

I thank the Presiding Officer.

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