Congresswoman Sutton Votes for Energy Independence
WASHINGTON, D.C - Congresswomen Betty Sutton
(D-OH), voted in favor of H.R. 6899, the Comprehensive Energy Security
and Consumer Protection Act. This legislation helps end our dependence on
foreign oil and moves America
towards a new energy future. This comprehensive legislation passed the House of
Representatives by a vote of 236 - 189. Congresswoman Sutton released the
following statement:
"The people in my District and all across our great Nation understand
that we cannot continue with the same failed Bush-Cheney energy policies. While
these policies have greatly increased the profits of oil companies, they have
crushed American families with the price at the pump. The American people know
we need to move forward and we cannot continue to pay lip service to renewable
and alternative energy. By passing this comprehensive energy legislation, we
are pushing forward towards a new energy policy that will work for American
families, both in the short and long-term.
The Comprehensive Energy Security and Consumer Protection
Act will open the Outer Continental Shelf, which has been under a Congressional
moratorium since 1982, the very year John McCain was first elected to Congress.
However, this is only one of the many provisions in this comprehensive energy
bill. The American people understand that we cannot just drill our way to
energy independence and that we must encourage real investment in renewable and
alternative energy initiatives. With this American-owned, 21st
century energy policy, we make the necessary investments in these sources,
creating 15% of our electricity from renewable sources and hundreds of
thousands of new, good paying jobs in Ohio.
Our bill also looks out for America's
families by requiring oil companies to pay the royalties that they owe to the
American people and ending the unnecessary subsidies the companies receive. This
comprehensive legislation expands drilling in Alaska, but bans the export of this oil so it
will be available for the American people. And our bill will temporarily
release oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, which will increase the
supply of oil to immediately lower prices at the pump.
And, while some would like us to only drill, we understand
that we must do more to build an energy independent future. In my District, we
are working towards innovative solutions to meet our energy needs. From Akron to Lorain,
universities and businesses are researching, developing, and marketing
renewable and alternative energy solutions.
Looking for fuel cells? Look throughout Northeast Ohio from
the University of Akron to CaseWestern ReserveUniversity
and Stark State College. Looking for
innovative components for wind turbines? Look in Avon.
Looking for a way to turn biomass into electricity? Look in North Ridgeville. Looking to turn industrial
waste heat into electricity? Look in Akron
at a new start-up in the Akron Global Business Accelerator.
Our forward-looking bill rejects the same old answers that
have led to this crisis. Years and years of mismanaged and harmful energy
policies that were written by oil men and for oil companies, have worked well
for the oil industry, but have left our families behind. With the Comprehensive
Energy Security and Consumer Protection Act and other legislation we are taking
our nation's energy policy in a new, clean and independent direction.
Contact: Erin Donar at 202-225-3401 or Erin.Donar@mail.house.gov