WASHINGTON, D.C. – Representative Edward J. Markey (D-MA), a senior Democratic Member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, responded to the President’s released State of the Union speech remarks on energy. 

“Tonight the President will tell us that ‘America is addicted to oil’, he is accurately describing a serious situation that has only gotten worse under his Presidency.  The first step to overcoming any addiction is admitting you have a problem.  The cure is a more rational energy policy that deals with the fact that 70% of US oil consumption is used to put gasoline in our cars.

“The President needs to embrace real reforms, not recycle rhetoric on the importance of reducing our dependency on foreign oil.

“America is ready for a simple step-by-step program to end America’s addiction on foreign oil:

•  Set a national goal of ending U.S. Dependence on Middle East Oil Imports within ten years
   
• Increase the Fuel Economy of our cars and SUVs to 40 miles per gallon over the next 10 years.
   
• Mandate that all vehicles are capable are running on gasoline, ethanol, or a combination of both by 2015
   
• Mandate that 25% of all residential and commercial energy be generated by renewable sources by 2020. 
   

“The President needs to put an end to his hollow promises and take action to reduce our dependency on foreign oil, the future of the United States depends on it.  We are in a race to be the world leader in energy technology and the four years of Bush Energy policy has only handicapped us at the starting line.  It is time to take aggressive steps to set America free from this dangerous addiction to foreign oil.”

Today Representative Edward J. Markey (D-MA), a senior Democratic Member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, introduced the “Fuel Security and Consumer Choice Act,” legislation designed to promote the use of alternative fuels and reduce America’s dependence on foreign oil by mandating that within ten years all cars, trucks, and SUVs sold in the United States be flex-fuel vehicles (FFVs) – capable of running on gasoline, ethanol, or a combination of both. The bill would also gradually phase-out the so-called “dual fuels loophole,” which gives CAFÉ credits to automakers who produce FFVs to ensure that we do not inadvertently hurt our overall fuel economy standards as a result of the new mandate.

For more information on Rep. Markey’s work on energy policy check out http://markey.house.gov/