This week the Committee on Energy and Commerce, on which I serve, is set to seize an historic opportunity by passing comprehensive clean energy legislation.  This legislation, the American Clean Energy and Security Act (H.R. 2454), will create jobs and help rebuild the economy, encourage clean energy innovation, reduce consumers energy costs and address the serious challenges posed by climate change.

This landmark legislation is the product of over 40 days of hearings in the Energy and Commerce Committee on energy and climate policy over the past two Congresses.  I participated in many of these hearings, receiving testimony from over 300 expert witnesses, who made it clear that we need swift action to rebuild our economy and begin to address climate change.  I believe that this thorough process has helped us craft a strong, thoughtful, and effective bill.  It includes a strong Renewable Electricity Standard to ensure consumers get more of their electricity from wind, solar and biomass energy; critical investments in energy efficiency; and immediate, significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions that are harming our planet.  Over the coming week my colleagues and I will have an opportunity to debate the merits of the legislation before voting it out of my committee.

For me the choice is clear.  We must enact comprehensive climate change legislation and we must enact it now.  We cannot sit idly by and allow other nations to lead the way to a clean energy future.  I think America can and must do better.  We must be global leader in this clean energy revolution and this legislation sets us on that path of leadership.  By passing the American Clean Energy and Security Act, I believe that we can boost the economy in the short-term by creating jobs and we can help consumers in the long-term by reducing energy costs as we invest in innovation. 

I hope others join me in seizing this opportunity to pass comprehensive energy and climate legislation that will transition our country to a new clean energy economy and protect our planet for our children and our grandchildren. 

To share your thoughts on our comprehensive energy and climate legislation please email me by clicking here.

Pictured above: (center) Congresswoman Capps meets with Central Coast firefighters to discuss emergency preparedness.