Jay Inslee: Washington's 1st Congressional District
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The New Apollo Energy Project
Inslee Offers Apollo Project Energy Amendment
Thursday, 10 April 2003
U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee offered an amendment today to the energy bill in the Committee on Rules. Inslee’s amendment, “The New Apollo Energy Independence Act,” is a comprehensive alternative to the Republican-sponsored energy bill. The Committee on Rules voted late last night not allow the House of Representatives to take up Inslee’s amendment in conjunction with the Energy Policy Act of 2003. Nonetheless, Inslee vowed to continue fighting for a clean energy future. Inslee and his colleagues plan to introduce the legislation as a stand-alone bill in the near future.
Said Inslee, “The American people know that our nation needs a bold vision for a clean energy future. This morning the Republican leadership denied an opportunity for the House to vote on a New Apollo Energy Project for America. In so doing, the Majority Party denied the American people the opportunity for a bold new energy policy that can free us of our over-dependence on Middle East oil, expand the economy, and address environmental challenges. Despite the fact that 39 members signed a letter asking for a vote on the New Apollo Energy Project, the Rules Committee Republican leadership did not make the amendment in order. My colleagues and I will introduce the New Apollo Energy Independence Act as stand-alone legislation in the coming weeks, and we will continue in our pursuit of an energy policy that meets America’s challenges and befits our awesome potentials.”
Inslee’s “New Apollo Energy Independence Act” sets energy performance goals for the country, in the manner of President John F. Kennedy’s challenge to the nation to send a man to the moon. The goal of the legislation is to marshal the resources of the federal government to provide a vision of how to:
- Significantly reduce our reliance on Middle East oil, thereby improving our homeland and national security;
- Expand our economy and creating jobs;
- Address the threat of global warming and environmental health issues.
The New Apollo Energy Independence legislation provides the tools needed to achieve the Energy Performance Goals.These tools include innovative use of the tax code, investment in research and development, and federal expenditures in existing infrastructure needs. It requires the administration to set up a monitoring system to track progress towards the Energy Performance Goals. Should additional measures prove needed, the amendment directs the President to initiate voluntary, regulatory, or other actions that may be needed to achieve the Energy Performance Goals. All expenses are offset by freezing the upper income tax cuts scheduled for 2004, closure of the offshore corporate tax loophole, and removal of abusive tax shelters.