House+Bill+Number+6

K.C. and C.B. Period 4 Bill H.R. 6 (The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007) media type="file" key="House Bill 6 (CBKC).mp3" toc

[|History of Bill] 
//Note: above link links to full history of the bill. This is long and complicated however, and it is not recommended that you read the full history. You can read the full version if you want, but the simple version below makes a lot more sense! //
 * [|House of Representatives Bill 6] was designed to "move the United States toward greater energy independence and security, to increase the production of clean renewable fuels, to protect consumers, to increase the efficiency of products, buildings, and vehicles, to promote research on and deploy greenhouse gas capture and storage options, and to improve the energy performance of the Federal Government, and for other purposes."
 * Major Congressional actions:
 * 1/12/2007- introduced on the floor of the House
 * 1/18/07- Passed in the House by a vote of 264 to 163
 * 6/27/07-passed in the Senate with one amendment (65 to 27)
 * 12/6/07 through 12/18/07- bill debated and comprimised
 * 12/18/07- Bill presented to President
 * 12/19/07- Bill signed into law by President: becomes public law 110-140
 * Committees
 * the Committee on Ways and Means, the Committee on Natural Resources, the Committee on Budget, and the Committee on Rules
 * The bill was Sponsored by Congressman Nick Rahall, a democrat from West Virginia. He has been a member of the House since 1976. He has won many awards and recognitions for his work in Congress. Congressman Rahall graduated from Duke and attended graduate school at George Washington University.

Reason for House Bill 6
//(and a brief history of energy usage and efficiency) //
 * The United States started using fossil fuels like oil, coal, and nuclear power at the start of the Industrial Revolution
 * Because of oil's easy access and cheap price, alternative energy resources were not considered until recently
 * Because of this, funding was cut from $1 billion in 1981 to $116 million in 1989
 * Thought of more environmentally friendly energy production was not considered until recent concerns on the environmental effects of burning fossil fuels. (oil, coal, and nuclear power)
 * [[image:2630366017_954727d594_m.jpg]]Photo courtesy of Wigwam Jones from flickr.com
 * The main points of the bill are to increase the production of clean renewable fuels
 * The bill will put signifacant funding towards creating and researching new enegy sources. (several billion dollars)
 * It requires that 15% o fenergy be renewable by 2020.
 * some of these alternative fuels include hydroelectric power, solar power, wind turbines, geothermal, tidal power, and biomass energy
 * [[image:100236998_a961f23d1f_m.jpg]]Photo courtesy of Wayfinder_73 from flickr.com
 * Biomass- energy derived from organic material grown for energy purposes
 * Geothermal- uses the heat of the Earth's underground to heat water into steam which goes through a turbine
 * Hydroelectric- energy obtained by running water through a turbine. One way to do this is by running water released by a dam through a turbine. However, of 80,000 dams in the U.S., less than 3% are hydroelectric.
 * [[image:487098614_639a24e069_m.jpg]]Photo courtesy of CraigAllen from flickr.com
 * these resources will help America because they are better for the environment and provide more job opportunities.
 * This bill also states to move America towards greater energy independence, lessening the need to rely on other nations for fuels
 * America has become far too dependent on other nations for fossil fuels. This is highly dangerous because America imports over 50% of its fossil fuels, and over one fourth of these are from the unstable Middle East.
 * America needs energy independence because it is very dangerous to have to rely on possibly violent nations that have might, in the future, become our enemies. We do not want to give them any advantage or leverage over us in a possible non-peace time.
 * Not only is relying on other nations for our resources dangerous, but it is also expensive.
 * America must spend many millions of dollars a year in order to pay for the oil that is imported
 * Another point that H.R. 6 covers is increasing the efficiency of current energy sources and energy using products.
 * This includes raising the average mpg of cars to 35 by 2020, increasing efficiency of appliances and buildings, and increasing the energy efficiency of the U.S. Government.
 * Increasing efficiency now will lead to lower energy prices and a more environmentally friendly nation until we have 100% renewable, nationally produced energy.
 * H.R. 6 also mandates that the average fuel efficiency of cars be 35 mpg by 2020. It also requires an incease in the production of ethanol and other biofuels.
 * Currently, Oil makes up 39.8% of American Energy, Natural Gas is 23%, Coal is 22.5%, Nuclear is 8.2% and renewable energy makes up only 6.1%. Notice how over 75% of our energy comes from fossil fuels. And, while renewable energy sources can also be some of the most efficient, least expensive, and most environmentally friendly energy sources, they are only 6.1% of our current energy.
 * Recently, however, people have pushed for greater energy efficiency. This has resulted in things like energy star, the clean air act and H.R. 6. The ultimate result of using renewable energy will be lower energy costs, cleaner energy, more energy that can be produced in the U.S. (and therefore more jobs), a safer supply of energy, and a more readily available supply. To sum it up, we would have the energy independence and security that H.R. 6 is trying to create.
 * Recently, however, people have pushed for greater energy efficiency. This has resulted in things like energy star, the clean air act and H.R. 6. The ultimate result of using renewable energy will be lower energy costs, cleaner energy, more energy that can be produced in the U.S. (and therefore more jobs), a safer supply of energy, and a more readily available supply. To sum it up, we would have the energy independence and security that H.R. 6 is trying to create.