As the Middle East becomes increasingly unstable and more and more evidence shows that global climate change is occurring, consumers should be able to make energy-efficient choices to help reduce America’s dependence on Middle Eastern oil and decrease global warming.

 

Each of us should be able to take individual actions, from switching to compact fluorescent light bulbs to purchasing a hybrid car, and the federal government should encourage this.

 

Washington has dragged its feet for far too long, denying the problem of climate change and our nation’s record of increasing dependence on foreign oil.  As scientific evidence for global warming continues to grow, the time to set a new direction for American energy policy is now.  This month, the U.S. House of Representatives will be voting on a wide-ranging package of legislation that will take our country further along the road toward energy independence.  This legislation includes several initiatives that I have been working on and which I am proud to support.

 

As the House has been considering new energy legislation, I have been pushing for greater federal support for plug in hybrid vehicles and biofuels.  This energy legislation will include a $6,000 tax credit for the purchase of a plug in hybrid car, and will encourage further domestic innovations of more advanced alternative fuel vehicles and their batteries.  When this legislation is passed, our country will see the largest investment in homegrown biofuels in history - $3.5 billion over five years to improve the production, transportation and storage of biofuels and to advance cellulosic ethanol into the marketplace.

 

Our energy plan will also include grants and tax incentives to increase the number of flexible fuel vehicles and gas stations with E85 ethanol pumps.  A $200 million per year grant program will be established to fund the installation, replacement or conversion of existing infrastructure for use with renewable fuels, including E85.  This will help spur the availability of biofuels at local gas stations.  We will increase the funds available for grants for cellulosic ethanol production and establishing grants to assist farmers in purchasing renewable energy systems and energy efficiency improvements.

 

The House’s energy legislation makes serious, strong improvements to the U.S. energy policy, but it does not include a much needed increase in vehicle Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency (CAFE) standards.  The Senate recently approved the largest CAFE increase in over two decades, to raise fuel economy standards for all cars, trucks and SUVs to 35 miles per gallon by Model Year 2020, an increase of 10 miles per gallon which will help save millions of barrels of oil per day.

 

This is a reasonable, realistic, and achievable goal that should be included in the House energy package.   That’s why I’m leading a group of freshmen Members of Congress to call on the House Leadership to include a similar proposal in the House energy package.

 

It’s time for America’s energy policy to benefit American families instead of big oil companies.  A new energy independence package would be incomplete without higher CAFE standards, which will increase the competitiveness of American auto manufacturers and help keep jobs on American soil.  Increased CAFE standards are vital to our new energy direction, and with this initiative included in our plan we can finally bring real change for America.