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Energy & Environment

Energy and Environment
Congressman Dingell has long fought to improve the energy and environmental policies of the United States. He serves exclusively on the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Most environmental and energy issues fall within the Energy and Commerce Committee’s jurisdiction including Safe Drinking Water, Leaking Underground Storage Tanks, Superfund, the Clean Air Act and Solid Waste.

During the 110th Congress, as Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Dingell was the leader in passing legislation that removed more than 8.6 billion tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, an amount equal to the annual emissions of all cars on the road in America today. Dingell worked closely with his colleagues to ensure that the American Clean Energy and Security Act will responsibly move our country forward to a greener future. This bill would require that a percentage of the nation's electricity be generated by wind, solar and other renewable energy sources as well as energy efficiency upgrades by the end of the next decade. Clean energy is the next technological revolution. Many other countries, including China, are putting policies in place that create demand for clean energy. We need to put policies in place that create domestic demand for clean energy so that we can regain our leadership position in the clean energy race.

Dingell continuously advocates for energy and environment policy to protect and preserve Michigan an our nation. He believes preserving Michigan’s natural, cultural and historic resources is vital. Dingell often quotes his father, who frequently told him, “We borrow this Earth from those who come after us.” He knows that National Park facilities and other natural treasures and historic resources must get the support they need. Since 1955, Dingell has worked to preserve and improve National Park facilities and other natural and historic resources across the country and will continue that effort.

Dingell took the lead to designate the River Raisin Battlefield in Monroe as a unit of the National Park System. The River Raisin Battlefield site was the scene of one of the bloodiest battles of the War of 1812. Out of nearly 1,000 American troops that participated in the engagement, only 33 escaped death or capture. This bloody event, arguably the largest land engagement of the war, gave birth to the emotional rallying cry “Remember the Raisin,” which spurred the American forces on to victory at the Battle of the Thames nine months later.

He was an architect of the 1972 Clean Water Act, authored the Endangered Species Act, and wrote the National Environmental Policy Act, which assures that Federal agencies weigh the environmental consequences of development projects before they are undertaken. He also played a major role in the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the National Wildlife Refuge Administration Act. In fact, in terms of protecting our public lands, there is no greater champion than Congressman Dingell.

In 2001, Dingell sponsored legislation to create the first ever International Wildlife Refuge. Since then, the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge has flourished – growing from approximately 300 to 5000 acres. The Refuge is one of a handful of urban refuges in the system and is near and dear to the Congressman’s heart, as he grew up hiking and hunting on very shores which are now part of the Refuge. A smart energy policy must emphasize the benefits of conservation efforts as well. Dingell, an avid sportsman and long-time true patriot for conservation, knows the benefits that land and water preservation give to families, business and government.

Congressman Dingell introduced legislation to increase the price of the federal Duck Stamp. These pictorial stamps produced by the U.S. Postal Service for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Originally created in 1934 as the federal licenses required for hunting migratory waterfowl, Duck Stamps have a much larger purpose today.. Ninety-eight cents out of every dollar generated by the sales of Federal Duck Stamps goes directly to purchase or lease wetland habitat for protection in the National Wildlife Refuge System. The Federal Duck Stamp Program has been called one of the most successful conservation programs ever initiated and is a highly effective way to conserve America’s natural resources.

Protecting the environment is vital to our civilization’s survival, and we must preserve the natural beauty and resources that are important not just to look at and enjoy but to preserve our economy and our national security. He knows that the federal government funding helps develop next-generation energy technologies that can protect the environment, improve national security and provide economic opportunity. Finding and developing clean sources of energy can sustain our economic standing globally and help move us forward to out-do the rest of the world. We must out-innovate and out-manufacture the rest of the world in new energy technologies such as hybrid and plug-in vehicles, hydrogen fuel cells, high-speed rail, and other options that can reduce our dependence on foreign oil. With Michigan’s leading position in America’s auto industry, we have the potential and the worker capacity to move our nation into an energy future that is cleaner, more secure and sets us on a winning path for the future.

H.R. 146 – Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009

H.R. 500 – Great Lakes Collaboration Implementation Act

H.R. 1550 – Consumer Assistance to Recycle and Save Act of 2009

H.R. 1689 – Carbon Capture and Storage Early Deployment Act

H.R. 1831 – Conservation Easement Incentive Act of 2009

H.R. 1916 – Migratory Bird Habitat Investment and Enhancement Act

H.R. 2192 – Climate Change Safeguards for Natural Resources Conservation Act

H.R. 2212 – 21st Century Energy Technology Deployment Act

H.R. 2454 – American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009

H.J.Res.18– Providing for congressional disapproval of the rule submitted by the Department of the Interior and the Department of Commerce under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, relating to interagency cooperation under the Endangered Species Act of 1973

May 25, 2011
DINGELL: H.R. 1216 ANOTHER PLANK IN REPUBLICAN REPEAL PLATFORM

January 5, 2011
Dingell Highlights Accomplishments

December 21, 2010
Dingell Issues Remarks Supporting “The America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010”

December 8, 2010
Dingell Issues Remarks on Bipartisan DREAM Act Legislation

September 9, 2010
Dingell: University of Michigan has been awarded more than $272 million Recovery dollars, directly creating over 500 jobs

September 7, 2010
Dingell Applauds the Michigan Primary Care Association’s Back-to-School Enrollment Campaign

August 25, 2010
Dingell Works with Community College Presidents Helping Michigan Workers

August 13, 2010
Superintendents Thank Dingell for Education Jobs Bill

August 10, 2010
Dingell Hails Passage of Job Creating, Deficit Reducing, State Budget Saving Bill

August 10, 2010
Dingell Returning to Washington for Vote

July 30, 2010
Dingell Announces Grant for Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum

July 1, 2010
Dingell Statement on Supplemental Appropriations Act