Statement of John Podesta

As a plan to decrease oil consumption, increase our national security and combat global warming, this energy bill is a failure. Instead of helping us save money at the gas pump, the energy bill gives away our tax dollars to energy companies already making record profits.

The challenges we face in moving to more secure and sustainable energy use are large. We need a bold energy policy for the United States. Sadly, even the modest commitment to increase the use of renewable sources for electricity or language acknowledging the danger of climate change did not survive in the final bill. We must continue to challenge the Bush administration and Congress to get serious about decreasing the oil consumption of the United States and combating global warming. The energy bill the Senate will vote on today ignores those challenges.

John Podesta is the president and CEO of the Center for American Progress.