|
|
U.S.
Senator Member: Finance, Agriculture, Energy, Ethics and Aging Committees |
|
|
|
||
|
For Immediate
Release Wednesday, July 23, 2008 |
CONTACT:Michael Amodeo – 303-249-5286 |
|
| Sen. Salazar, Energy Committee Examine Near-Term Solutions to Reduce America's Oil Demand, Dependence WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources held a hearing, entitled “Federal Programs to Reduce Gasoline Consumption,” to examine near-term proposals for improving American fuel efficiency and reducing our dependence on oil. At the hearing, United States Senator Ken Salazar pointed to the severe pain rural communities and elder Americans --whose limited incomes provide little or no recourse for reducing their fuel consumption-- are feeling as a result of $4-a-gallon gasoline, and highlighted the urgent need for forward-thinking policy solutions, such as the Open Fuel Standard Act, to help address both the short- and longer-term implications of America’s harmful oil dependence. “The energy crisis that we currently face is dominating the minds of many citizens,” said Senator Salazar. “I am hearing stories from all corners about folks trying to limit their gasoline consumption. The pain of high gas prices is only the most visible symptom of a much deeper and more systemic set of problems. Today’s hearing, in my mind, is about what we can do to both help consumers – especially our most vulnerable citizens – in the immediate term and what we can do to shatter our dependence on petroleum-based fuels for transportation as quickly as possible.” An abridged version of Senator
Salazar’s opening statement, as prepared for delivery, can be found
here. ###
|
||
