Lower Energy Costs Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. SORENSEN. Madam Chair, as Congress' only meteorologist, I rise today in strong opposition to H.R. 1, House Republicans' polluters over people act.

This bill does nothing to lower energy costs for working families. This bill does nothing to help our farm families dealing with the effects of extreme weather. This bill does nothing to support the domestic production of biofuels in central and northwestern Illinois.

In fact, instead of lowering costs for working communities across the Nation, the polluters over people act pads the pockets of Big Oil and Gas, guts environmental protections, and adds $2.4 billion to the deficit.

Earlier this week, I offered an amendment that would have prevented big corporations from selling natural gas overseas until we could ensure that it won't raise prices here at home. I am disappointed that Republicans put polluters over people and blocked my amendment from being considered today.

At home in Illinois, sustainability is not a partisan issue. Democrats, Republicans, and Independents all want our communities to be clean and prosperous. I thought this would be a bipartisan goal in Congress, but it seems that my colleagues across the aisle are willing to let the Federal deficit balloon for Big Oil and corporate interests at the expense of our communities' futures.

Not only will this decision impact our daily lives; it impacts the lives of our children, grandchildren, and their grandchildren.

I stand ready to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle on commonsense solutions that meet our Nation's energy needs while lowering energy costs for working families. American families deserve much more.

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