From the Sierra Club Washington D.C. office.
-------- Original Message --------
Hi Debbie,
We're trying to get some folks to
thank
Congressmen Braley and Loebsack for their good vote on HR. 6, the Clean
Energy Act of 2007. Details of the bill are below. If you and
some of your colleagues could give thier office a call we would
certainly
appreciate the help! Congressman Braley can be reached at:
202-225-2911
and Congressman Loebsack can be reached at 202-225-6576.
Thanks in advance. I hope that
you had a great New Years and a relaxing holiday season!
- Peter
Peter J. Goldin
Political Project Representative
Sierra Club
202/547-1141 (main)
202/675-7902 (direct)
202/547-6009 (fax)
[log in to unmask]
www.sierraclub.org
Congress Passes The CLEAN Energy
Act of 2007
First Vote on New Energy Solutions in the 110th Congress Demonstrates
Early
Commitment to New Direction for our Country's Energy Future
Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the bill, HR 6, The
CLEAN Energy Act aimed at curbing Oil Industry subsidies and
redirecting
the monies to fund clean renewable energy sources that benefit the
American
consumer. The legislation targets some of the giveaways to the oil and
gas industry that were passed in the last Congress including tax
breaks,
subsidies and unnecessary royalty relief.
The monies that will be generated,
expected
to amount to nearly $14 billion over 10 years, will be funnelled into a
"reserve" that will be used to accelerate the use of clean renewable
energy sources, promote the use of energy efficient products and
practices,
and increase research into clean renewable energy and efficiency
technologies.
HR 6 was one of six bills that taken up as part of the new Democratic
Majority's
short-term legislative priority list for the first 100 hours of
Congress.
This early action on energy issues demonstrates real commitment on
the part of the Leadership to deliver on their campaign pledge to
change
the direction of our nation's energy policy. The legislation represents
a positive first step in the Democrats agenda to move the country away
from the Bush Administration's aggressive drilling agenda towards a
long-term
sustainable energy plan. HR 6 represents a down payment on enacting
new energy future for America.
As this is the first environmental vote of the 110th Congress, it is
our
first opportunity to thank members of Congress who vote FOR the
environment.
We will want to do post-vote accountability to ensure that new members
who support this type of pro-active energy legislation hear positive
feedback
from constituents back in the district. Many of these new members are
still
considering how environmental issues fit into their own agenda. If
we help shape their early experiences with environmental issues to be
positive,
we can begin to cultivate new leaders and build on the environmental
majority
in this Congress.
--
><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º>
Deborah Neustadt
Des Moines, IA
Sierra Club
Water Committee, Chair
Wildlife and Endangered Species Committee, Corresponding Member
Iowa Chapter, Executive Committee Member, Political Chair