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As our nation continues to face historic energy challenges, as shown by the dramatic increase in price leading up to Hurricane Ike, I wanted to take this opportunity to hear directly from you about what I should focus on as I work for solutions. Below is the text of a survey that is posted on my website at http://brown.house.gov/Issues/Issue/energysurvey.html. You can fill that survey out there, and it will be automatically sent to my office. After completing the survey, you will have the opportunity to send it to a friend – also, if you know of anyone who wants to sign up for my email newsletter, please have them visit my website [http://brown.house.gov] and enter their zip code into the “E-mail Updates” block on the right side of the homepage. Thank you for the opportunity to be YOUR VOICE in Washington.
The Democrats' Plan - 'some of the above' instead of 'all of the above'
• As a long time supporter of an "all of the above" energy policy that increases domestic energy resources while expanding conservation and renewables and non-conventional energy. 'All of the above' means everything: increasing our use of renewable energy like biomass, wind, and solar; focusing more research dollars on putting clean coal and coal-to-liquid technologies out on the market; opening the door for the construction of more nuclear power plants; responsibly developing our domestic oil, natural gas, and oil shale resources while also making conservation and renewable energy use an every day practice instead of a novelty. I was again disappointed last week at Speaker Pelosi's latest no-energy legislation. Her plan is not the much needed "all of the above" answer to our energy crisis. Democrats continue to blatantly ignore the will of the American people by refusing a vote on legislation that will legitimately make America more energy independent and lower gas prices.
This only solidifies my believe that Speaker Pelosi and her fellow Democrats continue to be out of touch with the magnitude of this issue and the actions that must be taken to solve it. There is only one solution to our nation's current energy crisis, and it is an 'all of the above' energy plan; without it, we cannot begin to hope for domestic energy independence. You can read more about the Democrats' 'some of the above' strategy here, while the 'all of the above' solution is outlined here.
I am interested to know your thoughts on the Democrats' plan and their continued efforts to ignore the urgings of Americans and hold an up or down vote on the future of American energy. How do you feel about this?
I look forward to your comments. To answer this question, go to: http://brown.house.gov/Issues/Issue/energysurvey.html
An Issue of National Security
• At a press conference last week, I joined my fellow House Republicans in continuing to push for legislation that would lower the price of gas and set our country on a path to less dependence on foreign energy. Becoming more energy-self sufficient is not only an economic issue, but also an issue of national security, and on behalf of all of my constituents in coastal South Carolina, I demand that we begin voting on the many pieces of legislation that have been introduced to open up all domestic sources of energy and help our nation during this energy crisis.
I now look upon our current energy crisis as an issue of national security. We are putting our country's future into the hands of often unfriendly countries. How do you feel about this, and do you agree that our current situation is as much an economic issue as it is an issue of national security?
I look forward to your comments. To answer this question, go to: http://brown.house.gov/Issues/Issue/energysurvey.html
Offshore Energy Production and How it Impacts our Coast
• When it comes to utilizing our own resources in the US, many of you have asked if energy production off our coast will affect South Carolina directly. Energy policy will always affect our communities, from high energy prices hurting families and businesses to the positive impacts of an "all of the above" energy solution. Included in legislation I drafted with my colleagues, states that have energy production off their shores will receive a percentage of the revenues obtained by the federal government. These funds will go towards funding new infrastructure, improvements to the Intracoastal Waterway, and environmental projects such as wetlands restoration.
• However, under the Democrats' plan, it looks like states won't receive a single dime of additional funds - instead that money will go back to the federal treasury for spending on programs and projects that likely will have little to no impact on the citizens of coastal South Carolina.
Do you believe that states should receive revenue from oil production in federal waters off their coasts?
I look forward to your comments. To answer this question, go to: http://brown.house.gov/Issues/Issue/energysurvey.html
If so, do you believe that the coastal counties of that state should receive a larger percentage of these revenues in comparison with the rest of the state?
I look forward to your comments. To answer this question, go to: http://brown.house.gov/Issues/Issue/energysurvey.html
Our Energy Options: Which Ones Should we be Pursuing?
• In America, we are blessed with many sources of domestic energy. The "all of the above" energy solution stresses the importance of exploring all of these available avenues to provide as much domestic energy as possible to the American people. As I continue my push for an "all of the above" solution, I want to know more about where you think we should be prioritizing our dollars when it comes to researching and developing renewable and non-conventional energy sources. Please rank them by your preference using the number 1 for the source that should have the most focus upon and 5 for the number you would like to see the least focused placed upon.
Wind and Solar - Energy gathered from the motion of the air and the rays of the sun.
Hydro-power - Energy gathered from the movement of water.
Biomass - Energy gathered from organic material made from plants and animals, i.e., wood, crops, manure, and some garbage. To release biomass energy it can be burned or be converted to other usable forms of energy like methane gas or transportation fuels like ethanol and biodiesel.
Nuclear Power- Energy gathered by using the heat given off when uranium is heated, creating fission which generates heat. The heat is used to boil water into steam. The steam turns huge turbine blades, and as they turn, they drive generators that make electricity.
Clean Coal- describes a new generation of energy processes that sharply reduce air emissions and other pollutants from coal-burning power plants. More than half of the electricity generated in the US comes from coal.
I look forward to your comments. To answer this question, go to: http://brown.house.gov/Issues/Issue/energysurvey.html
Thank you for completing this survey. I appreciate the opportunity to hear your thoughts in detail as I work with my colleagues to enact solutions to our nation's energy challenges. To learn more about energy issues, please visit my Energy website. You can also read Energy Press Statements and Energy-related postings on my blog.
I Want to Hear from You!
I hope you find this E-Newsletter to be helpful and informative. I encourage you to forward it to friends and family. If someone you know is interested in receiving my Newsletter via e-mail, they need only visit my site and enter their zip code in the “E-Mail Updates” block found on the home page. Likewise, if you would like to contact me, I hope you will visit my website and send an e-mail message by clicking on the “Contact Me” block. Due to security concerns with mail received at the Capitol, postal letters can take several weeks to reach the Washington, DC office.
Thank you for the honor and privilege of representing the citizens of the First Congressional District. I pledge to do my best in upholding the trust that you have placed in me.
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