I don’t see a groundswell of people willing to raise gas taxes right now. That leaves fuel economy standards as the only effective tool we have as a nation to make a dent in our dangerous and ever growing consumption of oil. Sherwood Boehlert Read Quote
Well, for starters, we have to do more to create demand for new technologies that can reduce our dependence on foreign oil and environmental degradation. Sherwood Boehlert Read Quote
We need to reduce or at least limit U.S. demand for oil as quickly as possible, and we need to develop new technologies that can further help address our addiction to oil in the future. Sherwood Boehlert Read Quote
The way things are going, we are not too far from the day when it will take an hour’s labor just to pay for the gasoline to get to the job. Sherwood Boehlert Read Quote
The U.S. uses most of its oil for transportation. We can limit U.S. demand for oil by requiring automakers to use the technology that already exists to improve fuel economy – technology that the automakers refuse to bring into the market despite societal demand. Sherwood Boehlert Read Quote
The national minimum wage has not been increased in 9 years. By year’s end, 21 States across America will have a minimum wage exceeding the Federal minimum wage. Sherwood Boehlert Read Quote
So we in Congress have a very clear choice. We can take largely symbolic action and sit back and fiddle while Americans burn more gasoline. Or we can pass concrete, effective legislation that will save consumers money while significantly reducing U.S. oil consumption. Sherwood Boehlert Read Quote
So the only way we’re going to improve fuel economy or appliance efficiency swiftly and to the maximum extent practicable is if the government requires it. Sherwood Boehlert Read Quote
Mr. Speaker, the time for an increase in the minimum wage has not just arrived; it is long overdue. Sherwood Boehlert Read Quote
Having yet another vote on refinery legislation that uses high oil prices as an excuse to weaken environmental protections and to give more legislative gifts to the oil industry is misguided in the extreme. Sherwood Boehlert Read Quote
