Skip to main content

McCaul Supports House Energy Bill

December 18, 2007

(Washington, D.C.)- America’s researchers will soon have the ability to find new ways to power the nation and begin to make real progress on gaining energy independence from foreign oil.

On Tuesday Congressman Michael McCaul (R-Texas) voted and supported an energy bill which furthers America’s research into alternative energies. Congressman McCaul’s vote to support the legislation came after the United States Senate took out serious tax increases against American’s domestic energy producers.

"This was a bad bill when it came out of the House last week," stated Congressman Michael McCaul. He went on to say, "The House legislation contained significant penalties to be leveled against our nation’s own energy producers, burdensome taxes which would have been passed on to American consumers and that simply did not make sense. I worked with Texas Senators Cornyn and Hutchison to make sure the Senate removed these taxing provisions and am pleased this bill now focuses on energy and not taking more money out of our wallets."

H.R. 6, The Energy Independence and Security Act, funds research and development priorities in areas such as hydrogen and geothermal energy, and promotes research and development into next generation energy resources such as solar, wind, geothermal, and marine energy. The legislation also establishes a much-needed energy storage research and development program to find ways to make renewable energies, such as wind and solar, more effective. The bill also approves research and development into advanced biofuels.

"Ultimately, this bill could have done so much more to help America’s domestic energy producers with tax cuts and less regulation," stated Congressman McCaul. He went on to say, "This bill gets the ball rolling on seeking new ways to keep American society moving. Next year, I hope Democrats will work with us Republicans to pass a more comprehensive energy bill which truly focuses on current domestic energy production."