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[Page H4896]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
UPDATING AMERICA'S ENERGY
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from
Arizona (Mr. O'Halleran) for 5 minutes.
Mr. O'HALLERAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak in support of H.R.
4447, the Clean Economy Jobs and Innovation Act. I am proud that that
bill was used as a shell for this legislation.
This legislative package is the work of over 40 critical pieces of
energy and environment legislation from the House. Many of the bills
included in this package are bipartisan, and I would like to thank our
leadership, committee chairs, and Members on both sides of the aisle
for contributing to this effort.
This bill will take meaningful steps to update our energy
infrastructure, create new jobs, and take important steps to address
climate change in our country.
The last major Federal effort to address our changing energy
landscape occurred in 2007. The urgency of the climate crisis and
energy infrastructure crisis cannot be overstated.
As the proud Representative of Arizona's First Congressional
District, and as seen throughout the Western United States and our
Nation, communities are facing the effects of climate change every day.
From larger, deadlier forest fires to crippling droughts, Arizonans
know the real-life implications of our changing planet.
This is why today's bill is so important. It addresses the growing
climate crisis and revitalizes our sagging energy economy. It creates
much-needed job growth across our Nation. It is a win-win-win.
As Members of Congress, we must work in a bipartisan manner to
identify commonsense policy solutions to these critical issues and help
hardworking families find a just transition as our energy economy
continues to evolve.
The legislative package we are voting on today does more than just
update our Nation's energy infrastructure. It creates tens of thousands
of new, good-paying energy jobs that support a family and will be
created through the new programs, initiatives, and Federal projects
created within this bill to accelerate the deployment of clean energy
technologies.
We make meaningful investments in research and development programs
to unlock the energy technologies of tomorrow, limit our carbon
footprint, and preserve the environment for future generations to enjoy
and prosper. We need to continue to identify legislative initiatives
like the Clean Economy Jobs and Innovation Act that will work on a
large scale to create new jobs in growing industries.
I am humbled to see two bills I introduced, the Expanding Access to
Sustainable Energy Act, and the Tribal Power Act, be included in
today's critical legislative package. And I am proud to stand today in
favor of the Clean Economy Jobs and Innovation Act.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in voting to pass this
important legislation.
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