Senate Proceeding on Jun 5th, 2008 :: 1:44:17 to 1:52:48
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1:36:20 to 1:44:17( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Benjamin L. Cardin

1:44:04 to 1:44:17( Edit History Discussion )

Benjamin L. Cardin: what we've got to do. if we're going to have a clean environment and be energy independent. and the inner city rail is another way that we can do it left me m me it clear. i hope we get to amendments.

1:44:17 to 1:44:30( Edit History Discussion )

Gordon Smith: amendments can strengthen this bill. this bill needs to be strengthened. but the bill before us today is a bill that deserves our support. d i hope my colleagues will vote in favor of making sure that we

1:44:17 to 1:52:48( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Gordon Smith

1:44:30 to 1:44:45( Edit History Discussion )

Gordon Smith: move forward to enact global warming legislation this year. i urge my colleagues to do that. and, mr. president, i would ask unanimous consent on a separate issue concerning robert kennedy in a tribute

1:44:45 to 1:44:51( Edit History Discussion )

Gordon Smith: to his life tragically taken from us 40 years ago that my complete statement on robert kennedy would appear in the record separate from the remarks on the -- on the global warming at the appropriate

1:44:51 to 1:45:06( Edit History Discussion )

Gordon Smith: spot. the presiding officer: without objection, so ordered. mr. cardin: with that mr. president, i would yield the floor. a senator: mr. president? the presiding officer: the senior senator from oregon

1:45:06 to 1:45:21( Edit History Discussion )

Gordon Smith: is recognized. a senator: i thank the president. mr. president, this week the senate is engaged in a great debate, an important debate on a vital issue of global climate change and i join that

1:45:21 to 1:45:32( Edit History Discussion )

Gordon Smith: debate to find the best and most practical way to ease our dependence on foreign oil, reduce pollution and encourage clean energy. climate change, mr. president, is real.~ it's a problem and it needs our

1:45:32 to 1:45:46( Edit History Discussion )

Gordon Smith: response for the sake of our economy, our environment, and our national security. our country's energy future is one of the greatest challenges our country will face in the coming decades. addressing cmate change

1:45:46 to 1:46:01( Edit History Discussion )

Gordon Smith: is about what's good and what's right for our country, for our future. it's about how we reduce our reliance on foreign oil, devel a new sector in the american economy that will spur domestic manufacturing

1:46:01 to 1:46:14( Edit History Discussion )

Gordon Smith: and create millions of new jobs, all while reducing harmful greenhouse gas emissions. these challenges are too great and the stakes are too high. america cannot take a back seat or sid on the sidelines.

1:46:14 to 1:46:30( Edit History Discussion )

Gordon Smith: -- or sit on the sidelines. we simply must lead on this issue. we must make fundamental changes, and we must start now, today. we put a man on the moon, we defeated communism, we even created an

1:46:30 to 1:46:44( Edit History Discussion )

Gordon Smith: internet world. many thought, mr. president, the internet was just a fad, but look how it's changed our world in a decade. a renewable energy economy can and will do the same thing. america is an exporter

1:46:44 to 1:47:01( Edit History Discussion )

Gordon Smith: of our thoughts, our ideas, our dreams, our ideals. on the great challenge facing us today, we must reach high, challenge our thinking and deliver results like only the american people can. we are on

1:47:01 to 1:47:19( Edit History Discussion )

Gordon Smith: upward path with the emergence of green renewable technologies in the state of oregon: wind, solar, wave and geothermal. today in oregon, we are leading, from innovative biomass and umitilla to

1:47:19 to 1:47:34( Edit History Discussion )

Gordon Smith: geothermal to our long-life hydropower dams, jobs are being created in oregon by companies that research and manufacture these new energy sources, boosting our economy, addressing climate change and cuttg

1:47:34 to 1:47:49( Edit History Discussion )

Gordon Smith: our foreign dependence on oil. oregon and the northwest already enjoy one of the best sources of green energy, our hydroelectric dams. a source of 100% carbon-free energy. these dams are not only

1:47:49 to 1:48:01( Edit History Discussion )

Gordon Smith: critical to our economy, but a perfect example of existing sources of green energy. in oregon, we are leading the way in training the next generation workforce for green-collar jobs. schools across

1:48:01 to 1:48:15( Edit History Discussion )

Gordon Smith: oregon -- oregon state university, oregon institute of technology, lane community college in colombia, gorge community college -- are creating programs that will help supply our state and nation with

1:48:15 to 1:48:32( Edit History Discussion )

Gordon Smith: a vibrant and skilled workforce to accommodate a future of renewable, independent and clean energy facilities. through a combination of federal and state tax incentives, oregon has been able to attract

1:48:32 to 1:48:49( Edit History Discussion )

Gordon Smith: solar panel manufacturers, geothermal developers, fuel cell manufacturers, biomass facilities, and significant wind energy facilities. oregon has also become a hub of investment in solar facilities. for example,

1:48:49 to 1:49:01( Edit History Discussion )

Gordon Smith: solar world, one of the biggest solar manufacturers on earth, is investing over $650 million in manufacturing facility in hillsboro, oregon, that will employ over 1,000 people. as the lead sponsor

1:49:01 to 1:49:15( Edit History Discussion )

Gordon Smith: of legislation to provide for long-term extension of investment tax credits for solar and fuel cell facilities, i'm encouraged by the investment solar and fuel cell companies are making in oregon

1:49:15 to 1:49:29( Edit History Discussion )

Gordon Smith: and across the nation. we must provide for the extension of these other renewable energy tax incentives in order to avoid the boom-bust cycle that we see in these emerging tefpblgsry time the tax credit

1:49:29 to 1:49:41( Edit History Discussion )

Gordon Smith: -- every timee the tax credit is allowed to expire. that is an action we can and should take now that will produce results now. we must set ourselves on a path to energy independence and reduce our oil

1:49:41 to 1:49:56( Edit History Discussion )

Gordon Smith: consumption. that's why i fought successfully to increase our investment in renewable fuels like those thriving back in oregon. that's why senator obama and i passed a bill to raise the fuel efficiency standards

1:49:56 to 1:50:11( Edit History Discussion )

Gordon Smith: for the first time in two decades for our automobiles in this country. we have been making small strides, mr. president. now we need to make big ones. we renewable energy sources and less oil consumption

1:50:11 to 1:50:26( Edit History Discussion )

Gordon Smith: will benefit not only our environment, but our economy and our national security. energy sources, clean ones produced here at home instead of imported from the middle east. the private sector in america

1:50:26 to 1:50:39( Edit History Discussion )

Gordon Smith: is already visionary about a clean, strong economy. we must help here in congress and not hinder. this transformation won't happen overnight, but we can start now. we must start today. right now

1:50:39 to 1:50:52( Edit History Discussion )

Gordon Smith: the sources of our fuel-efficient vehicles and renewable energy manufacturing come from foreign countries. we don't take the lead going forward -- if we don't take the lead going forward, these

1:50:52 to 1:51:05( Edit History Discussion )

Gordon Smith: foreign countries will. to do so would put our country, our economy behind the eight ball, reliant upon others and not ourselves. right now the world's fossil fuel is controlled by countries like iran,

1:51:05 to 1:51:21( Edit History Discussion )

Gordon Smith: venezuela, and russia. we can't let our national security, our economic security be at risk to the whims of rogue governments. our reliance on foreign oil has gotten us into the entanglements that many of

1:51:21 to 1:51:37( Edit History Discussion )

Gordon Smith: us wish had not happened. by investing in a clean-energy future, a skilled green workforce, investment in next generation of biofuels, the promotion of fuel-efficient transportation, we will depend on

1:51:37 to 1:51:50( Edit History Discussion )

Gordon Smith: ourselves, not on others. it's also time for america and this congress to debate the merits of a new system to regulate carbon, to reduce greenhouse gases, reduce this country's carbon footprint. i know

1:51:50 to 1:52:06( Edit History Discussion )

Gordon Smith: we can come together in this chamber and with the next president to practically and effectively reduce the greenhouse gas we emit in this country and to truly reduce carbon. the response must be

1:52:06 to 1:52:20( Edit History Discussion )

Gordon Smith: global. we have all the tools. we have the will, the technology, the raw resources. it's time to move forward for the sake of our environment, for the sake of our economy, for the sake of our national

1:52:20 to 1:52:34( Edit History Discussion )

Gordon Smith: security. success will only be found in setting aside partisan agendas and focusing on common-ground solutions. our country can do this, and we must lead. i have great confidence in the will of the american

1:52:34 to 1:52:48( Edit History Discussion )

Gordon Smith: people. they know this must be done. i will help to make sure it is done. thank you, mr. president. i yield the floor. a senator: mr. president? the presiding officer: the senior senator from kansas

1:52:48 to 1:52:59( Edit History Discussion )

Sam Brownback: is recognized. mr. brownback: i thank the presiding officer for that recognition. i thank the presiding officer and the body for the chance to address it on an important topic. i'm glad we're discussing

1:52:48 to 2:03:06( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Sam Brownback