Pass Sen. Reid’s Energy Bill, Obama Says
President Obama called for speedy passage of a scaled-back energy and oil spill response bill during remarks at the White House today, while also renewing his
Jul 31, 202049.6K Shares709.5K Views
President Obama called for speedy passage of a scaled-back energy and oil spill response bill during remarks at the White House today, while also renewing his call for the eventual passage of comprehensive climate legislation.
Following a meeting this afternoon with senior congressional leaders at the White House, Obama said he intends to “keep pushing” comprehensive climate and energy legislation, which was stripped from Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s (D-Nev.) energy bill because it could not garner 60 votes. He did not offer a specific deadline for a comprehensive bill, however.
According to a White House transcript, Obama said:
“„We also talked about the need to move forward on energy reform. The Senate is now poised to act before the August recess, advancing legislation to respond to the BP oil spill and create new clean energy jobs.
“„That legislation is an important step in the right direction. But I want to emphasize it’s only the first step. And I intend to keep pushing for broader reform, including climate legislation, because if we’ve learned anything from the tragedy in the Gulf, it’s that our current energy policy is unsustainable.
“„And we can’t afford to stand by as our dependence on foreign oil deepens, as we keep on pumping out the deadly pollutants that threaten our air and our water and the lives and livelihoods of our people. And we can’t stand by as we let China race ahead to create the clean energy jobs and industries of the future. We should be developing those renewable energy sources, and creating those high-wage, high-skill jobs right here in the United States of America.
“„That’s what comprehensive energy and climate reform would do. And that’s why I intend to keep pushing this issue forward.
The following lawmakers attended today’s meeting: Reid, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio), and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.).
Rhyley Carney
Reviewer
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