AJC Applauds Senate Comprehensive Energy Bill, Urges House Action

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WASHINGTON, June 22, 2007; The American Jewish Committee applauds the Senate for adopting bipartisan and comprehensive energy legislation.

"Greater energy security means greater national security," said AJC Executive Director David A. Harris. "This bill will enhance U.S. energy security by reducing our dependence on foreign oil and also will benefit the environment by mandating use of alternative fuels."

AJC urges the House to move quickly to follow the Senate's lead by passing an energy bill at least as strong, and urges the President to sign expeditiously legislation addressing what he has appropriately called our nation's "addiction" to oil.

The multi-faceted approach adopted by the Senate aims to reduce dependence on foreign oil through enhanced efficiency standards for cars and buildings, incentives for alternatives, and a variety of other measures.

For the first time in more than 20 years, the Senate bill will raise the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards for all passenger cars and light trucks by roughly 40 percent by 2020. The bill also includes provisions to mandate increased use of ethanol from sustainable sources.

"By including language from the DRIVE Act, a bill AJC has long supported, the Senate is laying the groundwork for the American automobile industry to seriously promote the development of plug-in hybrid vehicles and other efficient vehicle technologies," said Harris.