Gore Urges Congress to Pass Obama Plan as First Step to Controlling GHGs

Gore Urges Congress to Pass Obama Plan as First Step to Controlling GHGs

Former Vice President Al Gore is urging lawmakers not to let the economic crisis get in the way of addressing global warming.

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Former Vice President Al Gore during his Congressional years. He served in the House (1977-85) and in the Senate (1985-93).
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Testifying today before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the Nobel Peace Prize winner said lawmakers should pass in its entirety the economic stimulus plan envisioned by President Obama as a first step to bringing greenhouse gases under control.

The plan's unprecedented and critical investments in four key areas - energy efficiency, renewable energy, a unified national energy grid and the move to clean cars - represent an important down payment and are long overdue, he said.

"For years our efforts to address the growing climate crisis have been undermined by the idea that we must choose between our planet and our way of life; between our moral duty and our economic well being," Gore said.

"These are false choices. In fact, the solutions to the climate crisis are the very same solutions that will address our economic and national security crises as well."

He said that as long as America continues to send hundreds of billions of dollars for foreign oil year after year to "the most dangerous and unstable regions of the world," its national security will continue to be at risk.

And as long as the country continues to allow its economy to remain shackled to the OPEC rollercoaster of rising and falling oil prices, America's jobs and way of life will remain at risk, he said.

Moreover, as the demand for oil worldwide grows rapidly over the longer term, even as the rate of new discoveries is falling, it is increasingly obvious that the roller coaster is headed for a crash, he said, "and we're in the front car."

In order for America to repower its economy, restore its economic and moral leadership in the world and regain control of its destiny, Gore said the country's leaders must take bold action now.

The House was expected to approve the $816 billion economic stimulus plan later today. It had been estimated to cost $825 billion, but the Congressional Budget Office updated the bill's price tag to $816 billion after accountants recalculated its cost.

That total could still rise, however, if the House passes a Democratic amendment that would add $3 billion for mass transit.

After approval in the House, the legislation would require passage in the Senate before being sent to Obama for his signature. Congressional leaders have promised Obama they would send him the measure by mid-February.

Scott Doggett:  is an AutoObserver.com Associate Editor.