Domestic Energy and Jobs Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. ELLISON. I would like to thank you, Mr. Markey, and Mr. Hastings, as well, for the time.

Mr. Chairman, my friends on the other side of the aisle keep on using this mantra, ``all of the above, all of the above.'' I think they should really name it ``oil above all.'' Oil above all would be a better name because it's very clear that this bill is really just a wish list and a checkoff for the big oil industry. It weakens public health protections, it forces arbitrary giveaways on public land, and it puts energy drilling ahead of all uses of Federal land. This is not a long-term strategy solution. It is an oil-above-all strategy.

The oil, gas, and coal industry are already getting billions in corporate welfare while they're making record profits. How much of the American taxpayers' money do they need? They will receive at least $110 billion in subsidies over the next 10 years. These subsidies have been won by decades of lobbying. In 2011, the oil, gas, and coal industry spent $167 million lobbying. But in comparison to the return on their investment, $167 million is small because they got subsidies of $110 billion. It is lucrative for them to do so.

They don't even need our help, Mr. Chairman. In 2011, just last year, the Big Five oil companies made $137 billion in profits. That's good by any measure. Why in the world would an industry that makes $137 billion in profits need the help of the American people with these tax breaks that the Republican majority won't even agree to get rid of?

This bill is simply checking off from Big Oil's wish list.

It weakens public health protections.

It forces arbitrary giveaways of public land.

It puts energy drilling ahead of all other uses of federal land.

This is not a long-term energy solution.

The oil, gas, and coal industries are already getting billions in corporate welfare.

They will receive at least $110 billion in subsidies over the next 10 years.

These subsidies have been won by decades of lobbying.

In 2011, the oil, gas, and coal industries spent $167 million lobbying the federal government.

They don't need our help.

In 2011, the Big Five oil companies made $137 billion in profits.

But the renewable energy industry does need investment.

Renewable energy is an emerging industry that can create thousands of new jobs.

Yet we are subsidizing the fossil fuel industry at 6 times the rate we are supporting renewable energy.

I offered a simple amendment to this bill.

It was a sense of Congress that fossil fuel subsidies should be reduced to help control the budget deficit.

Unfortunately, it seems the Republicans are too beholden to Big Oil to even allow a vote on my amendment.

I hope my colleagues on the other side--especially fiscal conservatives--agree that $110 billion in fossil fuel subsidies to profitable companies makes no sense.

We need a true ``All of the above bill'' that invests in clean, renewable energy--not this ``Oil above all'' bill.

I urge my colleagues to oppose this bill.

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