Congress must enact comprehensive legislation to protect our nation from the serious economic and strategic risks associated with our reliance on foreign oil. Policies advancing energy and climate security must promote economic recovery efforts, accelerate job creation and drive clean energy manufacturing.
America's reliance on oil poses a threat to our national and economic security. Too often, our economy struggles with rise and fall in the price of oil. We must commit to an economic future that is independent of the risk and unpredictability of oil markets. We must invest in clean energy sources that curb our dependence on fossil fuels and make America energy independent.
Currently, U.S. consumers export $400 billion a year to pay for foreign oil, and those costs are expected to increase by $420 billion annually within the next 5 years if we do nothing to reduce our dependence on oil and fossil fuels -- a $3,500 a year increase for every family in the nation.
It is critical that Congress take a comprehensive approach to America's energy policy that will create millions of new clean energy jobs, save consumers hundreds of billions of dollars in energy costs, enhance America's energy independence, and cut pollution.