All members of the
The House approved the final version of the bill on Tuesday by a vote of 314-100, and President Bush was accompanied by Sens. Jeff Bingaman, chairman of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and Pete Domenici, the committee’s ranking member, when he signed it today. Bingaman had a major hand in drafting the legislation, which the Senate approved last week on a vote of 86-8.
“After many years of struggle, we are enacting needed and long-overdue requirements for more fuel-efficient vehicles and more energy-efficient appliances, especially for lighting,” Bingaman said following House approval on Tuesday.
Domenici, who played a major role in crafting the final version of the bill, agreed.
“Today is a historic day in our quest to reduce dependence on oil, particularly from foreign sources,” he said in a statement released after Bush signed the bill. “While many of us on both sides of the aisle didn’t get everything we wanted in this bill, I believe that this legislation reflects the right priorities.”
The bill boosts mileage requirements to 35 miles per gallon by 2020, which would increase by 40 percent today’s 25-mpg average among automobiles in
The bill also requires a dramatic increase in ethanol use by 2022 and places new efficiency requirements on appliances, light bulbs and commercial and government buildings.
Bush said today that the bill “will help American consumers a lot” by diversifying the nation’s energy supply and reducing costs. While introducing members of Congress who were present at the bill-singing ceremony, he singled out Domenici.
“Looking pretty handsome, isn’t he?” the president said about the retiring senator.
After the bill-signing ceremony, Bush shook the hands of other members of Congress who were present, but took the time for a hug and photo with Domenici.
Senate candidates explain votes
Pearce, who like the state’s other representatives is running for Domenici’s Senate seat, blasted the bill in a floor speech before voting against it on Tuesday.
“When
He also decried the cost of the “greater conservation” mandated by the bill.
“This bill mandates more expensive cars, more expensive light bulbs, more expensive air conditioners, heaters and refrigerators,” he said. “While these mandates may conserve energy for the Americans who can afford them, we need a growing economy in
U.S. Rep. Heather Wilson said in a statement released by her office Tuesday that she also supports “maintaining domestic oil and gas production and initiatives for clean coal and new nuclear power sources,” but said those goals and the requirements enacted in the bill she voted for on Tuesday “are not mutually exclusive.”
“This bill sets reasonable standards for expanding the supply of renewable fuels, and I support the increases in fuel economy standards,” she said.
Rep. Tom Udall said in a statement released by his office Tuesday that he was disappointed a renewable electricity standard wasn’t included in the bill and that tax incentives for use of renewable energy were blocked by the Senate, but “this legislation demonstrates that the new leadership in Congress will fight for the tough changes that must be made.”
“A federal (renewable electricity standard) would help unleash the renewables revolution that is long overdue in this country,” he said. “It’s unfortunate that a minority in the Senate chose to obstruct passage of such an important and historic measure.”
More deliberating to come
But there’s more deliberation to come on this issue. Bingaman promised to push again next year for provisions that were stripped from this bill before it was approved.
“… advances in areas like renewable electricity and a forward-looking energy tax policy will not be blocked forever,” Bingaman said. “Americans overwhelmingly favor these reforms. We will be back next year to vote on them, and we will keep up our advocacy until Congress finally catches up to the American people.”
Udall said he is committed to enacting a renewable electricity standard in the future.
“I will continue working with my colleagues to make (a renewable electricity standard) the law of the land,” Udall said. “In the meantime, I strongly support the energy legislation that the House passed (Tuesday). It represents a crucial first step towards a more sustainable energy policy.”
Domenici, who blocked the renewable electricity standard in the Senate, said it was important to note “this bill does not contain provisions that the House originally proposed which would have increased energy costs for consumers, both at the pump and in their homes. The Senate was correct to reject those measures, and it is because we did that this bill will soon become law.”
Pearce called for a dramatic expansion in the nation’s domestic energy supply and an increased focus on the development of biomass.
“While this bill will require more ethanol from biomass, it shuts out rural forest communities from developing biomass plants as part of the solution,” he said. “This bill prohibits bio-fuels from the largest domestic source of biomass – federal lands with unhealthy and overgrown forests.”
Third Congressional District candidate Don Wiviott, a Democrat, said in a news release that Congress needs to do more. He was the only congressional candidate in the state to send out a release about the bill’s approval on Tuesday.
“The energy bill in Congress is a good first-step, but it is only that – a first step,” Wiviott said. “Now that we’re moving in the right direction, we must pick up the pace and make up for lost time.”
Wiviott said as a congressman he would “call for an Apollo-like project to develop strategies and technologies that will help us combat global warming and move towards energy independence.”