12/07/07

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: David Sandretti, (202) 785-8683 or david_sandretti@lcv.org

Senate Minority Blocks Action on Energy Independence Security Act

LCV Denounces Obstruction, Vows to Fight On

WASHINGTON, DC - League of Conservation Voters  President Gene Karpinski issued this statement regarding the Senate’s failure  to invoke cloture on the House-passed Energy Independence and Security  Act:

“A minority of the Senate is blocking action on a bill that  would reduce our dependence on dirty fossil fuels of the past, delaying  efforts to move us toward a clean, renewable energy future.

“This week  in Congress, we have seen how far we’ve come with the success in the House on  this energy bill and in the Senate EPW Committee with the reporting of the  first comprehensive global warming bill.  But today in the Senate, we  also see how far we have to go.  A minority of senators sided with big  oil and big coal to block a measure that is good for jobs, good for the  economy, good for national security, good for consumers, and good for the  planet.  A majority of 53 Senators voted for moving forward but we needed  60 votes today. This vote underscores the need to elect more pro-environment  senators who will fight for clean energy solutions. These issues will continue  to play a pivotal role in 2008.

“We will continue to fight for this  legislation because it represents a significant first step toward reducing our  dependence on fossil fuels, combating global warming and decreasing air  pollution, while simultaneously stimulating economic growth, creating  thousands of new jobs and saving consumers money on energy bills.”

The  bill as amended by the House (H.R. 6 ) increases fuel efficiency for  automobiles to 35 miles per gallon by 2020, requires that 15% of our  electricity come from clean, renewable energy by 2020, includes important  energy efficiency provisions and repeals billions of dollars of subsidies for  oil companies.

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The nonprofit League of Conservation Voters (LCV)  is the independent political voice for the  environment.
To  secure  the environmental future of our planet, LCV's mission is to  advocate for  sound environmental policies and  to elect  pro-environmental  candidates who will adopt and implement  such policies. For more  information, please visit us on the web at  www.lcv.org