Congressman Conyers Pans the Republican-Backed Energy Bill Says it inadequately addresses energy problems facing the country

"Today, this nation faces a crucial crossroads regarding energy policy. As energy costs are mounting to the detriment of the American consumer, the House prepares to pass H.R. 6, an $88 billion energy bill that does little to address these concerns. Instead, the bill:

.Rewards big energy producers at the expense of everyday Americans, giving $8.1 billion in tax incentives to the oil and gas companies while their consumers struggle with rising energy costs. In fact, the Department of Energy predicts that this plan will actually continue to raise the price at the pumps.

.Allows drilling in the Arctic, which will provide no relief to energy costs in this country and will do far too little to address our dependence on foreign oil.

.Gives the gasoline industry the right to continue to use the additive methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE), known to be poisoning our water supply, for nine more years.

.Shifts the burden of MTBE water clean-up from the industry onto the taxpayers.

.Virtually ignores renewable energy, focusing almost entirely on the energy sources of the past.

At this critical juncture that requires the formation of sound energy policy, the backers of this legislation want to undermine the few legal gains made regarding environmental rules, while at the same time refusing to acknowledge our finite fossil-fuel resources. These paired actions hasten the day that our energy sources are depleted by refusing to develop serious, timely alternatives to our energy needs."

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