Washington, DC - Congressman John D. Dingell (D-MI15) made the following comments after the Committee on Energy and Commerce passed H.R. 2454, The American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 (ACES), 33-25.

“I commend Chairmen Waxman and Markey for their hard work on the American Clean Energy & Security Act; in particular Chairman Waxman deserves praise for the way he conducted the protracted and challenging markup this week.  I still regret that our Republican colleagues by-and-large chose the path of obstruction and rejection as opposed to working with us in a good faith effort to improve the bill.  There were however, at times, moments of bipartisan cooperation, and amendments offered from both sides of the dais were unanimously accepted.  We will have a better bill because of that bipartisan collaboration.  It is my sincere hope that going forward we can work together in a more bipartisan approach.  It is my firm belief that the best legislation is crafted in the middle, in a bipartisan manner with the input of all Members.

“Through the markup process, we made a number of significant improvements to the bill, including adding my amendment to establish a Clean Energy Deployment Administration and make key reforms to existing federal loan guarantee programs.  Additionally, we adopted an important amendment by Representative Sutton to add a Fleet Modernization, or Cash-for-Clunkers program, to the bill, and we passed Chairman Stupak’s amendment to give the Federal Energy Regulatory Committee (FERC) Cease-and-Desist Authority and allow them to freeze the assets of a company that is prosecuted under anti-manipulation authority. 

“I look forward to working on this bill further as it moves to the Floor where I hope the House will soon pass the American Clean Energy & Security Act.”