constituents poor, poorer so that others can get richer at our expense. my friends, this is the wrong bill at the wrong time for the wrong reason. madam speaker, i reserve the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from oklahoma reserves his time. the gentleman from california is recognized. mr. waxman: madam speaker, at this time i'm delighted to yield to the gentleman from massachusetts, he's the chairman of the subcommittee on energy and the environment as well as the select committee on global warming. he has played the fundamental role of shepherding this bill through our committee and working to get it to the floor today. i will yield to mr. markey three minutes. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from massachusetts is recognized for three minutes. ms. markey: i thank -- mr. markey: i thank the gentleman from california, and i thank him and his staff for

the outstanding leadership and vision which he has provided on this legislation. this is the culmination of a career of work for the gentleman from california, and it's my honor to have been allowed to partner with him in order to construct this legislation that we bring to the floor here today. i want to thank, as the gentleman from california as well has noted the other members who have worked on this legislation. mr. dingell, mr. boucher, mr. doyle, mr. inslee, mr. green, mr. butterfield, mr. stupak, mr. rush. i mean so many members, including members off the committee, like henry cuellar from the state of texas who worked with us on natural gas-related issues. we will not be here unless we

had the cooperation of so many members across the full spectrum of the house. during this process we have received valuable input and expertise from other leaders in the house like chairman rangel on trade issues, chairman peterson on agriculture issues, amongst, again, many others. the legislation we have before us today is the most important energy and environment legislation to ever have been considered in the history of the united states. the consequences for our country are great unless we act to deal with these issues. this legislation sets a new course for our country creating millions of new clean energy jobs while reducing our dependence upon imported oil. and when it becomes law, and it

will, for the first time in the history of the united states congress, for the first time in the history of our country we will put enforceable limits on global warming pollution. at its core, however, this is a jobs bill. it will create millions of new clean energy jobs in whole new industries with incentives to drive competition in the energy marketplace. it sets ambitious and achievable standards for energy efficiency and renewable energy from solar, wind, geothermal, biomass so that by 2020, 20% of america's energy will be clean. it saves consumers money by updating efficiency standards for new buildings, appliances and lighting systems. it invests $10 billion a year

in energy-efficiency programs in states across this country. can i have one additional minute? mr. waxman: madam speaker, i yield the gentleman one additional minute. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized for one minute. mr. markey: and it starts the much-needed process of making our electric grid a smart grid so we can plug in the hybrid and electric cars of the future into an advanced efficient energy network that by the year 2030 we will be raising a generation of children who know not how to receive gasoline at a gasoline station but rather by plugging their cars into a plug so that the electricity that we are generating ensures that those vehicles are being run for the benefit of our people. this is a revolution. this is a moment in history. this is what the american people were calling for in the

election of 2008, a fundamental change that breaks our dependence upon imported oil, creates millions of new jobs, reduces the amount of pollution that we send up into the atmosphere, and points us in a new direction in our country, that breaks with this pattern of cyclical dependence upon imported oil coming from opec that holds our nation hostage. i urge an aye vote on this bill. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman's time has expired. the gentleman from oklahoma. mr. lucas: madam speaker, i'd like to recognize the gentleman from virginia, mr. goodlatte, for two minutes. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from virginia is recognized for two minutes. mr. goodlatte: thank you, madam speaker. i ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, so ordered. mr. goodlatte: i rise in strong opposition to this bill. i agree with one thing the gentleman from massachusetts had to say and that is this bill has very important consequences, but those consequences are devastating

for the future of the economy of this country. it's in pursuit of the fantsoif thinking this legislation will be able to cause us to turn down the thermostat of the world by reducing co-2 gas emissions when china and india and other nations are pumping more and more co-2 gas into the atmosphere all the time. we would be far better served with legislation that devotes itself to developing new technologies before we slam the door on our traditional sources of energy like coal and oil and natural gas and nuclear power, the most co-2-free edition -- emission we have, and this bill does nothing to promote it. it stifles the ability of the people in this country to have the competitiveness thy they need in the world, to be able to get inexpensive sources of energy. i strongly oppose this legislation. we, republicans and democrats, our offered over 200 amendments to try to improve this bill. they made in order one.

in shut do you think this democratic process, the speaker of the house has taken away the voice of the american people. the simple truth behind this legislation is, it raises taxes, kills jobs, and will lead to more government intrusion. it is estimated this bill will raise 94%, natural gas prices 55%, that's in addition to the expected rise in all of those sources of energy because this congress for the last 2 1/2 years has refused to take up a real american energy plan to devote more to producing domestic sources of all of our traditional sources of energy and developing new sources. we support the effort for energy efficiency. we support the effort to promote new and alternative forms of energy. we do not support this kind of suicide for the american economy. i urge my colleagues to oppose this legislation. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman's time has expired. the gentleman from california.

mr. waxman: i want to yield to the gentleman who had been the chairman of the energy subcommittee on our full committee last congress and who was instrumental in getting the first draft of the legislation we worked off, but more importantly, as a knowledgeable individual in this area and from a constituency that has a special concern about the problems, he was table negotiate with us so that we could reach some of the accommodations in this legislation that has made it a much better bill. i want to yield to him with great admiration five minutes to the gentleman from virginia, mr. boucher. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized for five minutes. mr. boucher: i thank the gentleman for yielding and congratulate him on the tremendous leadership he's shown in bringing the issue to the house floor this afternoon. ski unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, ordered. mr. boucher: i rise in strong

support of the bill and urge its approval by the house. it achieves broad reductions in greenhouse gases, enhances america's energy security and will unleash investments in clean energy technologies that will create millions of new american jobs. these energy technologies will evolve from america's laboratories. they will be deployed at home. they will be exported around the world. they will be the foundation for our next technology revolution. and it all start here's with passage today of the clean energy security act. approximately 80% of the electricity in the district that i represent is coal-generated. and coal production is one of our region's major industries. it is a major employer of our constituents. not surprisingly, my focus in the shaping of the bill and the energy and commerce committee

was to keep electricity rates affordable and to enable utilities to continue using coal which accounts for fully 51% of america's electricity generation. both of these goals have been achieved in the bill that is before us today. electricity rates will be only modestly affected. the nonpartisan congressional budget office says that by 2020, the cost of the entire program for the typical american family will be $175 per year. the environmental protection agency projects that the nearer term cost for the american family for all elements of this legislation will be between $80 and $110 per year, about 20 cents a day for the typical american family. so the claims by the opponents that this legislation will impose enormous electricity

price increases are simply wrong. and the environmental protection agency projects that by 2020, the usage of coal in our economy will grow as compared to today's usage. now that may seem somewhat counterintuitive in a bill that regulates greenhouse gas emissions. the e.p.a. projects that by 2020, coal usage in america under the terms of this bill will actually grow. as transportation electrifies, the demand for electricity increases and coal, our most abundant fuel, will still be the fuel of choice to meet the rising demand. the claims of opponents that the co-2 controls under the bill will force utilities to surrender coal use causing an over reliance on natural gas with attendant broad economic harm to the nation are also simply wrong.

this is a responsible measure. it is carefully balanced. it reduces greenhouse gases by 83% by the year 2050 as compared to 2005 levels. it keeps electricity rates affordable. it enables coal useage to grow as the demand for electricity increases nationwide. it opens the door to a more secure energy future and the creation of millions of new jobs, innovating, deploying and exporting to the world. the new low carbon dioxide emitting technologies that will power our energy future. these are sound reasons to approve the bill. for those who still harbor doubts, let me make a more practical argument to vote for passage. in march of 2007, the supreme court held that carbon dioxide is a pollutant. you should that ruling and the terms of -- under that ruling and the terms of the existing

act, the environmental protection agency is now effectively required to regulate co-2 emissions. federal regulation for greenhouse gases is now inevitable. it is not a question of whether we're going to have regulation, the only question is whether the regulation will be our carefully balanced congressionally adopted, economically sustainable regulation as contained within the bill before us today or whether we'll have e.p.a.'s regulation under the blunt instrument of the clean air act where economic considerations cannot be fully weighed. given that choice and the path this bill charts for affordable electricity, for increased coal use and for new job creation, i would urge members to make a reasonable decision to approve today the clean energy security act. i yield back the balance of my time and urge passage of the bill. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from oklahoma. mr. lucas: i yield two minutes to the gentleman from kansas,

mr. moran. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized for two minutes. mr. moran: thank you very much. i thank the gentleman for yielding. there's a story around congress today that with the adoption of the peterson amendment, the negotiations between the chairman of the committee, that this bill becomes acceptable and advantageous to those of us who represent rural america. i can assure you nothing could be further from the truth. while the peterson amendment substantially improves the bill, at least modestly improves the bill, the end result is nothing but something that is disadvantageous, negative for rural economies. agriculture thought at one point in time there would be something they could gain by sequestering carbon in the soil. this bill still provides no assurance that the e.p.a., not the department of agriculture, but the e.p.a. would allow that

to occur. if they would, the agriculture department is involved, but agriculture is not mentioned in this bill with regard to offsets. the electric cooperatives are still disadvantaged. if you're from rural america, the allowances allowed are for the east and west coast. but those of us in the poorer parts of the couldn't arery will be transferring our wealth to those other areas of the country. s that jobs bill but it is a jobs -- jobs elimination bill. this bill creates a significant disadvantage for american small business and agriculture as we try to compete in a global economy in which other countries do not abide by these caps, rules, or regulations. i would assert that in my time in congress, there is no piece of legislation that will be more damaging to the future of rural america, to the future of small farms and businesses than the bill before us today.

this bill, a jobs bill, as described by the gentleman from massachusetts is a job elimination bill, not a job creation bill. i urge my colleagues, both recognized for one minute. mr. hoyer: i thank the gentleman for yielding. mark this day, june 26, 2009, my colleagues we have an opportunity to serve in a historic session of the congress of the united states. we have an opportunity to take action that will make a major difference in the security and independence and environment of our globe as well as our country. we have been given the privilege by our fellow citizens to serve in a time of historic change and meeting challenges that were the subject of this past presidential campaign. in this past presidential campaign, there were three major candidates. you could perhaps name more.

but there were two certainly at the end. and the campaign of senator mccain and senator obama had something in common. they were both for comprehensive cap and trade legislation. the candidate you supported and the candidate i supported. they put an agenda of action before the american people that they would pursue if they were elected president of the united states. only one could be elected. but presumably both would have followed through on their commitment, and this president has and we are today. this is a transformative moment. this is a moment to build a clean energy future for our country. this is a moment to create jobs in america. this is a moment to take on at long last a defining challenge

of our time, global warming. i know my colleagues can seize this moment. if they only will. the substitute talks about a manhattan project. i think the sentiments expressed in the substitutes are good ones. the objectives are good ones. but america voted for action. not additional studies. america voted to make a difference, not to make a point. america voted for the change we could believe in. that's what this bill represents. i know they can look back from a future in which america is independent of foreign oil. there has been much talk about taxes. tragically, almost every day

debate we have on this floor deinvolves into, we're going to raise your taxes. my fellow americans know about having their expenses raised. because the foreign potentates who hold us hostage because they provide so much of our energy gave us a new tax at the gas pump and every american remembers it. why? because we have not taken the action necessary to become energy independent. so our gasoline prices at the pump for my commuters who drive sometimes an hour or an hour and a half to get to work to support their families paid an additional $2.50 per gallon tax imposed by those from abroad. who provide us energy. this bill is about making sure

that foreign interests cannot raise the expenses of our families. this bill is about making sure that we in america provide our energy. efficient energy. clean energy. energy that will not bring our globe to a heating process that will drown out what the navy calls the literals. the seashores. where most of our people live. my colleagues, this bill, the american clean energy and security act, is a true turning point. this is one of the historic actions we will take not just in this congress, but as members of congress for however long a tenure we may have.

it's a complex bill. because we face a complex problem. but we can sum up its outcome simply. new american jobs. less dependence on foreign energy. a reduction in the carbon pollution that causes global warming. how does this bill accomplish those goals? among its most important provisions are a requirement that utilities meet 20% of electric demand through renewable sources and energy efficiency by 2020. i'm old enough to remember the lines of the 1970's. when you waited in line an hour or two or three to put gasoline in your car so you could get your child to school. get to work. pick up your child from child care. and america should have acted. but we did not. today, we're going to act.

significant new investments in renewables. carbon capture and squest ration. electric vehicles and cutting edge energy research. all of that is in this bill to take action. change that america can believe in. and energy saving standards for buildings, appliances, energy. this bill creates a clean energy bank to fund clean energy projects across america. investment in america's ingenuity and innovative entrepreneurial spirit. that's what this bill is about. that is why it's so important to america. and it invests in high-tech transmission lines to build the essential foundation for a more efficient grid that is essential if the energy we produced can be delivered to those who need it in businesses and in homes.

new transmission lines comprised of superconducting cable and other efficient wires will carry more power within existing rights of way with less land use, the result will be a more secure, environmentally friendly grid. that's what this bill does. i work with the chairman and representative inslee to ensure that those transmissions provisions were included because they're such an important part of a more cost effective, energy efficient future that our country needs. of course the bill also includes the reduction of our carbon emissions by 17% by 2020. some would like to do more. some would like to do less. but we have reached a compromise. that is the legislative process. it is a compromise that can pass this house and pass that senate, be signed by the president and become law and make progress. that's what our responsibility is. then more than 80% reduction by

2050. we can fight global warming with the same kind of market-based cap and trade solution that was so effective in combating acid rain at minimal cost in the 1990's. global warming threatens every one of us. there was disagreement on that for a long period of time. some seven years in the bush administration, until the last year, president bush, our president, decided that yes, global warming was in fact a challenge that must be met. this is not a partisan issue. it is an issue on which we have reached consensus. global warming threatens every one of us. it will affect the kind of live ours children will lead and the kind of prosperity our country and world will enjoy. to those who complain about the cost of the bill, i answer we are all paying the cost of carbon emissions already. and certainly as i pointed out earlier, paying the cost of being hostage to those abroad

who provide our energy. the longer we wait to act, the more we will pay year after year after year. if we take action now we can get jobs, growth, clean energy, and energy independence for less than the price of a postage stamp a day. for each of us. according to the e.p.a. and c.b.o. with this bill passed and signed, the united states will finally be able to argue, persuasively and credibly, for global action on a challenge that knows no borders. we understand that if the chinese do not act or the indians don't act, the air that they belch will soon come to this continent and our children and families will be at risk. this is a global problem, but america is the leader. america must lead. america must set the example.

this bill does exactly that. at the same time, action on global warming will send a powerful job-creating price signal to the private sector, spurring innovation in every part of the renewable energy economy. jobs, jobs, jobs. that is one of the reasons why the u.s. climate action partnership a business coalition, dedicated to fighting climate change has argued that, and i quote, the way we produce and use emergency -- energy must fundamentally change both nationally and globally and this coming change represents an excellent opportunity for economic growth. that is why another coalition of 19 businesses, including the pacific gas and electric company, duke energy, national grid, h.p., starbucks, and nike wrote to president obama that this bill, and i quote, will drive investment into cost-saving, energy-saving technologies.

and job creating innovation. create the next wave of jobs in the new energy economy. and will provide the predictability we need to plan for future business success. those aren't my words. those are the words of leaders in the corporate community in america who know something about innovation, enterprise and free markets. it's long been the -- it's long been understood that acting on global warming is a moral necessity as well as an intellectual necessity. but now more and more of us are realizing that it makes powerful economic sense as well. madam speaker, let me as an aside thank you for your presiding at this time on this historic bill and for presiding over so much legislation in such a fair and effective fashion. this house will miss your service, but the country will

enjoy your continuing service. i thank you, madam speaker. madam speaker, a future of clean energy is well worth the price. a republican governor inaugurated in the state of maryland in his inaugural address said that the cost of failure far exceeds the price of progress. the cost of failure for the last three to four decades has cost this country. progress will be far less expensive than failure. my children, my grandchildren and the generations to come will be either the beneficiaries of our stewardship or the victims of our neglect.

i urge my colleagues this day to reject this substitute not because it is bad for the words -- words that it incorporates, because its effect would be to stop action so desperately needed by this country and this globe. i urge my colleagues, defeat this substitute, pass this bill, take this historic opportunity for our children, our grandchildren and generations yet unborn. i so a lot of power without any congressional oversight. now i really hate to do this, but when you file a 3---- 300-page amendment at 3:09 a.m., the american people have a right to know what's in this bill. they have a right to know what we're voting on.