Volatile gasoline prices and increased overall energy costs underscore the critical need for energy independence through a more affordable and environmentally-friendly American energy supply.   

While running for President last year, then-Senator Barack Obama indicated that addressing climate change would be one of his top priorities as President.  Since then, the Democrat leadership in Congress has introduced the American Clean Energy and Security Act—which includes a cap-and-trade program—and they plan to move quickly with the legislation.   

Cap-and-trade, which is better termed “cap-and-tax”, creates an artificial market for greenhouse gas emissions by capping nationwide emissions at an arbitrary level and auctioning off the right to emit these through credits.  Unused and unneeded credits can then be traded and sold in the market.  Cap-and-tax would be detrimental to the U.S. economy—effectively creating a national energy tax that would increase energy prices, kill jobs, and transfer wealth overseas.    

• Industries who can afford to purchase credits will be forced to pass their costs onto consumers in the form of higher prices for energy and goods that are energy-intensive in production or distribution.  
• Manufacturers who cannot afford to pass the costs onto consumers will be forced out of business or will move overseas to stay competitive—killing jobs in the U.S. and decreasing domestic economic output.  
• Jobs, industries and wealth will transfer to countries that do not have the same environmental standards as the United States, like India and China.

Congressman Sessions supports reducing greenhouse gas emissions—but not at the expense of hardworking Americans. Conservation and energy efficiency are a critical component of Congressman Sessions’ energy policy principles.

For energy price stability and long-term energy independence, Congressman Sessions believes that Congress must increase supply by opening American resources to energy production and decrease demand by prioritizing energy efficiency and alternative, renewable energy development. Congressman Sessions’ energy policy priorities include the following goals: