BY CONGRESSMAN BART GORDON

On June 26, the U.S. House passed an energy bill. Leading up to the vote, and in the days that have followed, misleading statements have been made to describe this piece of legislation.

I would like to set the record straight and explain why the House-passed energy bill is vital to our region’s economic future.

The primary reason I supported the energy bill is because it will create jobs and finally put us on a path to end our dependency on foreign energy sources.

Jobs have been leaving our country for years now, and many of them aren’t coming back. As this has occurred, America has become more and more dependent on foreign energy sources. By creating new industries in the renewable energy sector, like solar, wind and water, we will both create new jobs and end our energy dependence. This is exactly what the energy bill will do.

Nissan’s electric car and battery plant in Smyrna and the solar-technology plants in Memphis, Clarksville and Cleveland, Tennessee are examples of the new energy industries. These energy industries have ripple effects that create even more jobs.

Nissan is a great example. Its new electric and battery car plant will employ 1,300 people directly, but the supply companies – the primary metal, electrical equipment, and plastics companies – will locate in the surrounding communities and are estimated to create more than 9,000 additional jobs.

The House-passed energy bill will provide incentives for the development of more industries in the alternative energy sector here in Tennessee, similar to the plants setting up shop in Smyrna, Clarksville and Cleveland right now.

Concern has been expressed about a potential cost increase in household utility bills if the energy bill is signed into law. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office analyzed the bill and concluded the following: “Households would bear costs but ultimately would receive equivalent benefits.” To be clear, I would not support a bill that imposed unreasonable cost increases on consumers.

I understand that these are tough times. I have heard from thousands of Middle Tennesseans who have lost or are worried about losing their jobs. I have also heard from countless others tired of our dependence on foreign oil. We can’t solve these problems overnight. What I am trying to do in Congress is support initiatives that will create a stable foundation for our economy and, at the same time, address other major issues facing our country.

U.S. Rep. Bart Gordon of Murfreesboro represents Tennessee’s Sixth District in the House of Representatives, where he is the chairman of the House Science and Technology Committee.

WASHINGTON – On Friday (June 26th), the U.S. House passed a military budget bill for FY2010, which included increases in funding amounts for the National Guard. The bill also extends health care coverage and increases pay for guardsmen and reservists.

“The Tennessee National Guard has contributed substantially to our nation’s military efforts over the last 8 years,” said Congressman Bart Gordon. “The military budget we passed will allow us to increase funding and benefits for guardsmen who have courageously served our country alongside active-duty soldiers.”

On Wednesday (June 25th), 140 Tennessee Guard members left for Iraq. Since 2001, nearly every member of Tennessee’s National Guard, which is made up of 14,300 members, has been deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan. Some have been deployed multiple times.

The House-passed military budget for FY2010, provides a 3.4% pay raise for military personnel, including guardsmen and reservists. It also extends military health care coverage, known as TRICARE, for guardsmen and their families. The bill would extend TRICARE coverage prior to deployment from 3 months to 6 months.

“These soldiers willingly leave their everyday lives to defend our country,” added Gordon. “In November, 5,000 Tennessee Guard members are expected to be deployed – leading up to their deployment, they deserve quality health care, which will help to ensure they are physically prepared and healthy when they serve our nation abroad.”

The bill also increases the size of our country’s active-duty military, which could reduce the number of redeployments for Guard and Reserve units. The Senate is expected to pass their version of the bill in July.

WASHINGTON – Today (June 26th), the U.S. House passed an energy bill that will create jobs in new industries and put the United States on a clear path toward energy independence.

“I have given this legislation a lot of thought, and I am convinced it will not only benefit working families in Middle Tennessee, but is essential to our region’s economic future,” said Congressman Bart Gordon. “Jobs have been leaving our country and most of them aren’t coming back. This bill will create new industries in the energy sector for blue-collar workers. These new industries will have a ripple effect, creating new additional businesses that will supply parts and create even more jobs.”

The House-passed bill, the American Clean Energy and Security Act, will regulate carbon dioxide pollution, invest in developing a 21st Century energy grid, and most importantly, provide incentives for the development of renewable energy industries.

“Nissan’s Smyrna plant and the new solar-technology plants in Clarksville and Cleveland, Tennessee are examples of the new energy industries this bill will bring about,” said Gordon. “Each plant will create thousands of new direct and indirect jobs. Nissan is a great example. Its new electric car plant will employee 1,300 people, but supply companies – the primary metal, electrical equipment, and plastics companies – will open up shop in the surrounding communities, and they are estimated to create more than 9,000 additional jobs.”

During the last few months, numerous statistics have been used and misused to describe the cost of the bill’s provisions. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) analyzed the bill passed by the House today, and concluded it would cost $175 a year for families at its height in 2020, or about $15 a month. These estimates did not include savings that will come from upgrades to the energy grid, more efficient homes, and advanced appliance efficiency standards. As stated in the CBO report, “Households would bear costs but ultimately would receive equivalent benefits.”

“Other countries are developing these clean energy industries right now – solar, wind, hydro, and others,” added Gordon. “They recognize current energy sources are limited – they are going to run out. If we don’t act now, years down the line, our foreign dependency will just switch from petroleum-based products to new energy resources that we could have created right here in our country. This bill will put us on track to finally declare our energy independence.”

The House-passed energy bill is supported by a wide coalition of organizations that includes energy companies, business (small and large), labor groups, as well as conservation groups. It will now move to the Senate for consideration.

This summer, President Obama and Change That Works will fight to ensure Americans receive much-needed health care reform in 2009. Community service is a critical piece of our health care campaign and our National Health Care Day of Service on June 27, 2009 will highlight its importance.

Change that Works will hold a canvass to distribute flyers and provide education to the community on the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) as our National Health Care Day of Service event in Murfreesboro.

One of President Obama’s first actions was expanding access to the Children’s Health Insurance Program. By passing health care reform, we will extend the access afforded through CHIP to adults across America. Currently, millions of eligible CHIP participants are unaware of how to sign up and receive the services they need. By providing state-specific education to parents, volunteers can help these children gain access to health care.

Saturday June 27th
12 Noon to 4:00 PM
Outside Patterson Park Community Center
521 Mercury Blvd
SHIFT 1: Noon to 12:00 PM
SHIFT 2: 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM
SHIFT 3: 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM

To volunteer or for more information, contact Darrell Bouldin at: darrellbouldin@gmail.com or 931-409-0320 or Ashley Newton at: anewton@tnchange.org or 615.513.3657.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 23, 2009

Contact: Jonathan Fagan
Rutherford County Democratic Party Chairman
(615) 604-4211
han.d.man.2@gmail.com

(Murfressboro, TN) - The Chair of the Rutherford County Democratic Party (RCDP) today called on newly appointed Rutherford County Election Commission (RCEC) Chairman Tom Walker and Election Commissioner Doris Jones to resign their posts.

The call comes a day after both the Republican Chairman and Election Commissioner were quoted in the Murfreesboro Post as saying they don’t care what the state law says when it comes to serving the people of Rutherford County.

“Americans value free and fair elections. Rutherford County citizens deserve adults on the Election Commission who know and obey the rule of law. Otherwise, our trust in the democratic process is undermined. We don’t need people in control of our election process who blatantly express their disregard for state law,” said RCDP Chair Jonathon Fagan.

Both the newly appointed RCEC Chairman Walker and Election Commissioner Jones expressed their blatant disregard for state law when reporters from the Daily News Journal and the Murfreesboro Post attempted to cover a legal proceeding of the Election Commission. The reporters attempted to hand a copy of the law to the Chairman and Commissioner when both angrily dismissed the law calling it “crazy.” The election commission threatened police action to physically remove them from last night’s meeting.

“The people of Rutherford County and the state of Tennessee deserve Election Commissioners who they can trust to respect and uphold the law,” Fagan said. “Recent events serve to remind us of what happens when that faith is lost.”

Fagan said the attempt by RCEC Chairman Walker and Election Commissioner Jones to act illegally and then openly express their disdain for the laws of the state should be grounds for their immediate termination.

“The people of Tennessee deserve to know our elections are being handled professionally and not by partisan hacks who willfully thumb their nose at the law.”

Read the DNJ’s front page story here

Read the Murfreesboro Post’s story here