From Jane Clark
The House voted on its version of an energy bill (H.R. 4) in the early
morning hours of 8/2. The House passed four separate energy bills out
of four different committees, and combined them into one bill of more
than 500 pages that does little to create a sound, balanced energy
policy. Rather, this bill would provide tens of billions of dollars in
subsidies to coal, oil, gas and nuclear industries, open the Arctic
National Wildlife Refuge and other sensitive areas to oil and gas
drilling, weaken environmental protections for other public lands, do
little to improve fuel economy standards, and starve renewable energy
and energy efficiency programs of needed funding.
The House of Representatives voted on two important amendments to the Bush
energy plan yesterday, and sadly, many of them voted against the
environment. Despite the plan's polluter giveaways and industry tax breaks,
two amendments to the plan could have made a difference: the first would
have enacted the biggest single step to a secure energy future by raising
fuel-economy standards for light trucks, including SUVs, to that of cars;
the other would have eliminated plans for drilling in the Arctic National
Wildlife Refuge. Both amendments failed; 160 members voted to raise
corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standards, while 269 opposed the
measure and 206 members voted to protect the Arctic Refuge, while 223 were
opposed.
The votes by our congressional delegation on two amendments to the energy
bill are below. Congressman Leach voted our way on both issues, Congressman
Ganske voted with us on CAFE standards, and Congressman Boswell voted with
us on protecting the Arctic. Thanks to all of you who called or wrote your
representative.
On Increasing Fuel Economy Standards
An Amendment to H.R. 4, Securing America's Future Energy Act of 2001, that
would have increased fuel economy standards by closing the light truck
loophole that allows SUVs and other light trucks to meet a lower fuel
economy (CAFE) standard than cars currently meet. The amendment would have
combined light trucks and cars into one fleet that would have meet a 27.5
mpg average by 2007. This step alone would have saved 1 million barrels of
oil per day and slashed global warming pollution. This was the first time
since 1975, when Congress passed the fuel economy law, that the House had
voted to raise the standards. The amendment offered by Representatives
Boehlert (R-NY) and Markey (D-MA) failed by a vote of 160 to 269.
Yes was the pro-environment vote.
Iowa
01 Leach (R) Yes
02 Nussle (R) No
03 Boswell (D) No
04 Ganske (R) Yes
05 Latham (R) No
Markey-Johnson amendment to H.R. 4 to protect the Arctic National Wildlife
Refuge from drilling.
QUESTION: On Agreeing to the Amendment
Yes was the pro-environment vote.
AYES NOES PRES NV
REPUBLICAN 34 186 2
DEMOCRATIC 171 36 3
INDEPENDENT 1 1
TOTALS 206 223 5
--- AYES Iowa Delegation
Boswell
Leach
---NOES Iowa Delegation
Ganske
Latham
Nussle
Of interest:
From: Charles Winterwood <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, February 28, 2001 12:48 PM
Subject: Nussle town meeting
> I went to Congressman's Nussle"s town meeting last week (February)
> When someone asked him a question on energy he
> surprised me by saying he didn't want to drill ANWR or
> offshore although later he hedged and said only if it
> was done very safely.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
To get off the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to:
[log in to unmask]