The bill, of which Thornberry is the author, includes language to allow drilling in ANWR and offshore. It also includes tax credits to capture carbon dioxide coming up smoke stacks and use it to flush oil out of existing wells, allowing us to get more oil out of wells that we already have and, at the same time, reduce green house gas emissions. The No More Excuses Energy Act will also extend the wind energy tax credit for 10 years, and encourage investment in nuclear power plants by, and in new refineries.

“The approach of the No More Excuses Energy Act is that we need to produce more energy of all kinds here at home,’’ Thornberry said at a news conference on Tuesday. “We need to do more of everything here at home because every bit of energy we can produce at here is one less barrel we have to buy from foreign countries.”

A discharge petition is a means of forcing a bill to the floor for a vote. In order to be successful, the petition must obtain the signatures of 218 members. The No More Excuses Energy Act was introduced in July of 2007. This week, House Republicans filed a discharge petition which, if successful, will force a vote on the bill.

“Some things we can’t control, but some things we can, and I think its time for no more excuses about why this Congress doesn’t take more action to produce more energy of all kinds here at home,” concluded Congressman Thornberry.

For more information on the No More Excuses Energy Act go to http://www.thornberry.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=125&Itemid=57