Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Charles W. Boustany, Jr., (R-Southwest Louisiana), a member of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, made the following statement following the Committee’s hearing on climate change.

“We can care for our environment and create jobs, but the proposals suggested at today’s hearing fail to accomplish this,” Boustany said.  “As the nation faces a recession, any legislation that would cut American jobs or hike taxes is irresponsible and would make American workers less competitive.  Let’s work together to bridge the gap between our current oil and gas economy and new fuels in a constructive way that would create American jobs.”

Today’s Committee hearing focused on data and models that presented questionable projections of the long-term causes and effects of greenhouse gases.  Boustany continues to advocate energy security as a national security and economic issue.  Dramatically rising fuel prices in the summer of 2008 squeezed family budgets, and proposed unilateral tax and trade penalties to curb emissions could cost America thousands of jobs.

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