July 29, 2008 – Alliance President Kateri Callahan participated in a press conference, called by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, to discuss the need for and benefit to the American people of passage of such legislation. Others presenting remarks at the press conference included the leading authors of the legislation, Sens. Max Baucus (D-Mont.), chairman of the Senate Finance Committee; Alliance honorary vice-chair and chairman of the Senate Energy Committee Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.); and Finance and Energy Committee member Ken Salazar (D-Colo.). Kateri's remarks were as follows:
"I would like to begin by thanking and commending the champions of S. 3335 – the Jobs, Energy, Families and Disaster Relief Act of 2008. Each of these senators has made the advancement of energy efficiency and clean energy technologies a hallmark of his distinguished career, because each recognizes that these resources and new technologies are key to ensuring a secure, sustainable energy future for America.
"These congressional leaders understood,well and long before most, the inter-relationship among energy, our economy and our environment. S.3335 is testament to their vision and leadership as they have made the advancement of energy efficiency and clean energy technologies the cornerstone of this economic relief package.
"As we all know, today’s high energy prices are wreaking havoc on family budgets. Median household income in 2006 was less than $50,000. And the Alliance projects total energy costs for American households this year – to fuel the home and the car – will be at least $6,300.00 – fully 13 percent of pre-tax earnings.
"While these prices are hurting many, many Americans, the situation is critical for the 20 percent of American households – more than 26 million families – earning less than $20,000 annually. How to pay rising energy bills this year is an uncertain and scary question for far too many.
"Congress has an obligation to help stop the erosion in the economy that is being fueled, largely, by rising energy costs; and it has an opportunity to fulfill this obligation to American consumers and businesses through swift passage of S. 3335.
"As a country, we need to be smart about how we prop up our flagging economy. To help Americans, we need public policies and investments in technologies and infrastructure that can help us not just to “pay the bills,” but also to rebuild and sustain our dominance in the world economy.
"S. 3335 is a major step in this new vision for America’s energy and economic future. This bill should be passed before anyone on Capitol Hill takes a vacation this summer!"
