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It's been a busy few weeks in Washington, and I've been grateful for the chance to speak with many of you during our recent telephone town halls. What I've heard are the same things I've been told by many of you at the grocery store, our schools and at local businesses - concerns about the economy and rising gas prices.
Particularly in our current economy, I’ve also heard many of you stress that you want to know exactly what Congress is doing with your tax dollars. To that end, I have introduced my Congressional Accountability Initiative to increase transparency in Congress.
Below you’ll find information on this initiative and a few of the bills we have been working on over last few weeks to help bolster our economy and lower gas prices.
Strategic Petroleum Reserve Fill Suspension and Consumer Protection Act of 2008
Here in the Northwest suburbs, we face some of the nation’s highest prices at the pump. At over $4.00 a gallon, many of us find ourselves carpooling and delaying summer road trips. While conservation at the individual level is important, I have also been working with my colleagues in Washington on measures to stabilize gas prices.
To lower prices at the pump in the near term, Congress passed H.R. 6022, The Strategic Petroleum Reserve Fill Suspension and Consumer Protection Act of 2008, which was signed into law by the President on May 19. This law temporarily suspends filling of our strategic petroleum reserve — which is currently 97 percent full — until oil prices fall to a more reasonable level. Experts agree that this move will have measurable and swift results at the pump.
The Renewable Energy and Job Creation Act of 2008
While taking steps to alleviate the impact high gas prices are currently having on consumers, Congress has also been working toward long-term solutions to our nation's energy dependency.
In May we passed H.R. 6049, The Renewable Energy and Job Creation Act of 2008, to promote investment in energy efficiency, create thousands of “green jobs,” and encourage innovation by American businesses. This bill provides incentives for investment in renewable energy and extends expiring tax provisions including the R&D tax credit and tax deductions for teachers and students. It will also help homeowners by creating a new deduction for property taxes.
I have also supported H.R. 6, the Energy Security and Independence Bill Act, which encourages investment in alternative energy and raises fuel standards for our nation’s automobiles for the first time in 30 years. I also introduced my Green Innovation Agenda, a trio of bills that promote construction of more energy efficient homes and commercial buildings.
Congressional Accountability Initiative
At a time when families are working harder than usual to balance their household budgets, Congress has more of a responsibility than ever to exercise fiscal restraint and be held accountable for how we spend taxpayers’ dollars. That’s why I introduced a pair of bills to increase transparency in the legislative branch.
The Voting Record Transparency Act, H.Res. 1222, will require all Members of Congress to post a link to their voting records on their official websites. While I already post my votes on key issues on my website, there is no requirement for others to do so, and constituents who want to know how their representatives voted have to look up each bill separately. My bill will ensure that voters have the information necessary to hold their public officials accountable at the polling place.
I also helped introduce the Bipartisan Earmark Reform Commission Act of 2008, H.R. 5755, to create an independent commission to investigate congressional and executive earmark spending. It would ensure that federal funds are spent appropriately on our highest-priority projects. This bipartisan group would report its findings to the President and Congress, which would be required to implement its recommendations within 60 days.
If you have questions about this legislation, or would like to share your concerns about any of my work at home or in Washington, I encourage you to contact my office or visit my website at any time.
Thank you, and it’s an honor to represent you.
Sincerely,
Melissa L. Bean
Member of Congress
June 24, 2008
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