Rep. Matsui Advocates for Reduced Dependence on Oil at House Hearing

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, April 28, 2010

CONTACT: MARA LEE
(202) 225-7163

Today, Congresswoman Doris O. Matsui (D-CA) participated in the House Energy and Environment Subcommittee hearing Clean Energy Policies that Reduce Our Dependence on Oil. Rep. Matsui has been a long-time advocate of clean energy policies and for reducing our dependence on oil, and specifically that the U.S. can foster economic and job growth by investing in alternative energy.

Yesterday, Rep. Matsui was joined by her Energy and Commerce Colleagues Commerce Trade and Consumer Protection (CTCP) Subcommittee Chairman Bobby Rush (D-IL), Chairman Emeritus John D. Dingell (D-MI), and Congresswoman Anna Eshoo (D-CA) in introducing H.R. 5156, the Clean Energy Technology Manufacturing and Export Assistance Act of 2010, to boost the competiveness of U.S. clean technology industry in the U.S. and international marketplace.

Rep. Matsui's opening statement for today's hearing, as prepared for delivery, is below:

I commend the EPA for establishing a greenhouse emissions standard for cars and light trucks and for finalizing a renewable fuels standard, which Administrator (Lisa) Jackson rightly points out in her testimony, are inextricably linked to reducing our dependence on oil and cutting emissions of greenhouse gases.

As we all know, oil provides more than 40% of all energy consumed, and 97% of the energy used for transportation. However, it is crucial that we advance policies that lessen our carbon footprint, curtail harmful emissions, create jobs, and safeguard the physical and energy security of our nation. In doing so, we will preserve - and even improve upon - our current way of life.

To become less reliant on fossil fuels, America must embrace clean technology, clean fuels, and new ways to cut emissions. If we can succeed in doing that, we will improve our manufacturing base and regain our competitive advantage in the global economy.

Toward that end, I recently convened a clean technology regional summit in Sacramento that brought together clean tech companies, non-profits, utilities, colleges, and businesses to discuss ways in which they are fostering cooperative relationships and strategic partnerships to deepen the region's ongoing efforts to become a Clean Tech Capital. On top of Sacramento's leadership as an environmental and metropolitan planning model for the State of California, this summit demonstrated the region's vision to achieving greater energy independence.

Our nation must also aspire to be the world leader in producing and exporting clean technology. And the President has repeatedly expressed this goal. Unfortunately, the United States still lags behind many of our international competitors in expanding our clean tech industry, particularly in exports abroad.

Just yesterday, I, along with Representatives Rush, Dingell and Eshoo, introduced legislation H.R. 5156, the Clean Energy Technology Manufacturing andamp; Export Assistance Act that would provide domestic manufacturing and foreign export assistance to boost the competitiveness of the U.S. clean tech industry here at home and in the international marketplace.

It is critical that our nation become the leader in manufacturing and exporting clean technologies, not one that becomes increasingly dependent on foreign energy products. This legislation will enhance our standing in the clean energy race.

I look forward to working closely with my colleagues, stakeholders, and other advocates to move the United States towards a more energy efficient economy that utilizes clean tech manufacturing and lessens our dependence on oil.