LAUTENBERG VOTES TO APPROVE CLEAN ENERGY JOBS AND AMERICAN POWER ACT

LAUTENBERG VOTES TO APPROVE CLEAN ENERGY JOBS AND AMERICAN POWER ACT

ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE PASSES MEASURE TO REDUCE POLLUTION, CREATE JOBS, REDUCE DEPENDENCE ON OIL

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ), a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, today applauded committee approval of the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act of 2009.  The legislation includes aggressive targets and timetables for emissions reductions, significant funding increases for R & D and the development of smart transportation options. 

"Committee approval of this legislation is a strong start for the Senate to begin building a cleaner energy future in America," stated Sen. Lautenberg.  "Reducing emissions 20 percent by 2020 and establishing a clean energy economy will create jobs, reduce our reliance on dirty fuel sources and establish America as a leader in energy innovation."  

Sen. Lautenberg worked to ensure that the legislation would reduce emissions from 2005 levels by at least 20 percent by the year 2020, marking an improvement over the 17 percent reduction established in the House passed legislation.

Sen. Lautenberg's other priorities in the legislation include hundreds of millions of dollars in increased funding for research and development into the next generation of clean and efficient energy, billions in increased funding for the development of smart transportation options, and assurances that the EPA would retain its ability to use the Clean Air Act to regulate global warming pollution.

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