Senator Hagel's speech at the Brookings Institution

Today Senator Hagel delivered a speech to The Brookings Institution, an event described as

"a discussion of U.S. foreign policy in the context of the 2008 presidential campaign. Senator Hagel examined the inventory of global challenges that the next president will inherit and the responsibilities of the presidential candidates to address these challenges."

The speech was titled "Memo to the Candidates." You can read the full text here as a pdf.

Press Release catch up

Here are some of the press releases you may have missed:

Senate Passes “Wounded Warriors Act”

Hagel’s International Mediator Language Included in Levin-Reed Amendment on Iraq War Policy

Hagel-Levin Introduce Amendment to Protect U.S. Military Deployment Standards

Hagel Introduces Comprehensive Amendment on U.S. Iraq War Policy

Hagel Introduces Comprehensive Energy Reform Legislation

For a full listing of the press releases from Chuck Hagel's Senate office, see his Senate website.

Hagel on the issues - ENERGY

Part two of my series on Chuck Hagel on the issues. The information comes from his new website.

ENERGY

• Senator Hagel has supported environmentally responsible energy exploration in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR).
• Senator Hagel has introduced legislation in the Senate to require that all gasoline contain 10% ethanol by 2010, and supports producing 25% of America's energy from renewable resources by 2025.
• Senator Hagel has supported the increased use of nuclear power, off-shore drilling, and a wider and deeper portfolio of energy resources.

"Hagel Co-Sponsors Bill to Increase Consumer Availability of Alternative Fuels"

Chuck Hagel's Senate Office put out the following press release yesterday, once again showing his concern for energy indepdence and for alternative fuels.

Hagel Co-Sponsors Bill to Increase Consumer Availability of Alternative Fuels

January 18th, 2007 - WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE) joined a bi-partisan group of Senators today in re-introducing legislation that would authorize the Secretary of Energy to use Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) penalties to provide grants to eligible entities who install alternative fuel pumps for fuel types such as E-85 ethanol and natural gas. U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE) was an original co-sponsor of this bill in the 109th Congress.

U.S. automakers are producing an increasing number of vehicles that run on alternative fuels, such as E-85 ethanol blend gasoline, but only one percent of all gas stations in the U.S. provide consumers with E-85 fuel. This legislation will provide grant funding for the construction or expansion of infrastructure necessary to increase the availability of alternative fuels to consumers. CAFE standards are the weighted average fuel economy for a manufactures fleet of automobiles. Penalties are incurred by manufactures who fail to meet the CAFE standards.

“Our nation needs alternative fuels to play an increased role in creating a broader and more diverse energy portfolio. We must begin to expand the availability of alternative fuels, such as E-85 ethanol, to American consumers. This is common sense legislation that will help reduce our nation’s dependence on foreign sources of energy while at the same time providing additional markets for Nebraska’s agriculture producers,” Hagel said.

Another step on the path to energy independence

Senator Hagel understands the critical role that energy policy plays in our world today and how interconnected it is to other critical areas, such as foreign policy and agricultural policy. Previous posts on Chuck Hagel and energy policy are here and here.

Here is a an excert from a press release from Senator Hagel's office with regard to his latest work on energy policy.

Hagel Original Co-Sponsor of Bill to Expand Renewable Energy Projects

September 12th, 2006 - U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE) joined a bipartisan group of senators today in introducing the “Rural Energy for America Act of 2006.” The legislation would expand the availability of grants and loans under Section 9006 of the 2002 Farm Bill to farmers, ranchers, rural businesses and school districts for assistance with purchasing renewable energy systems and to make energy efficiency improvements.

“Investment in renewable energy and energy related projects will be critical to address our nation’s growing energy needs. This legislation provides funding for many Nebraskans who are developing renewable energy projects or updating existing energy operations."

This legislation would do the following:
• set aside 20% for program funding for state and regional organizations to establish rebate programs for renewable energy projects;
• add rural school districts to the list of those eligible for funding;
• ensure that projects that receive grants receive the full renewable energy production tax credit; and
• gradually increase funding for the program from $115 million over five years to $250 million over five years.

Hagel and Energy Policy from GOPProgress

Liz Mair wrote a nice piece about energy policy over at GOPProgress and the excellent piece has some nice insight into Senator Hagel and energy policy. Here is an excerpt from it:

But for as much as the media focus on this liberal/conservative energy-babble, leading us to believe that we're stuck with the status quo, fortunately that isn't true. While leading Democrats chatter on about their loony left proposals, and the far right recite "ANWR" over and over like nuns saying Hail Marys, moderate and libertarian Republicans are actually doing something about the energy crisis, and our environment.

Back in February 2005, Sen. Chuck Hagel introduced legislation designed to boost substantially the development of clean-energy technologies. One bill focused on promoting technology to reduce greenhouse gas intensity in developing countries, while also promoting those countries' economic development. A second focused on authorizing corporate loans to aid domestic development of clean technologies. A third focused on authorizing tax credits to spur development and use of clean technologies, a prime example being hybrid cars. Ultimately, the three bills were dropped in favor of a single amendment covering the same ground, and attached to HR 6, which became law as the 2005 Energy Policy Act (EPA).

Although the EPA is certainly not perfect, the Hagel provisions have already had a very significant and positive effect. We have seen substantial growth in the hybrid industry (thanks to the amendment's inclusion of tax incentives for hybrid purchasers). We have also seen a major injection of capital into the solar panel industry, which is already getting more solar panels on the market and into consumers' homes, and creating thousands of new jobs and a more dynamic energy sector. In sum, Hagel's carrot-based initiatives (as opposed to the heavy stick initiatives advocated by many liberals) are already helping move us towards greater energy efficiency, increased use of renewable energy, reduced reliance on oil, a more diverse and innovative energy sector and new high-tech jobs. All of this will aid our future economic growth and prosperity.

Take a look at some of the articles over at GOPProgress, it's a great new site.

Technorati tags: Sen. Chuck Hagel, Energy Policy

"Senate Passes Legislation to Expand Domestic Energy Supply"

Senator Hagel's office put out the following press release yesterday. Yet another way that Chuck Hagel has been attempting to pursue a comprehensive and intelligent energy policy.

August 1st, 2006 - WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Senate today passed The Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act (S.3711) by a vote of 71 to 25. This legislation opens a portion of the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) in the Gulf of Mexico for exploration and production of oil and gas. It is estimated that this area contains 1.26 billion barrels of oil and 5.8 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE) was a cosponsor of the bill.

“This is common sense legislation that is long overdue. For decades our country has drifted without a national energy policy. This has left us dependent on other nations in the most unstable parts of the world for our energy supply. This bill is a responsible step towards expanding our domestic energy production. Nebraska’s agricultural producers have been hit hard by dramatic increases in gasoline, diesel, fertilizer, irrigation and heating costs. The OCS has significant oil and natural gas resources that can be developed in an environmentally responsible way,” Hagel said.

This legislation provides for the opening of more than 8.3 million acres on the OCS for oil and gas leasing. Approximately 2.5 million acres will be opened within one year of the passage of this bill. It calls for leasing an additional 5.8 million acres “as soon as practicable.” It would also place a moratorium on an area 125 miles from the West Coast of Florida until 2022. The moratorium would not only protect the coastlines of Florida, but also preserve a strategic military training area in the Gulf of Mexico.

This legislation establishes a revenue sharing program with the Gulf Coast states affected by the drilling. The revenue will be used to strengthen and protect coastal wetlands that are necessary to minimize damage from hurricanes and also enrich the Land and Water Conservation Fund that is distributed to all 50 states.

Technorati tags: Senator Chuck Hagel, Energy Policy

Chuck Hagel Quote for the Day

“Our foreign policy needs to support our energy, economic, defense and domestic policies. It all falls within the arch of national interest. There will be windows of opportunity, but they will open and close quickly.”

-Chuck Hagel

Energy

The following is from what Chuck Hagel wrote the letter mentioned in yesterday's post. Energy was on of his six priorities.

“Nothing is more important to economic development, prosperity and security than energy. Everything is connected to energy. We took an important step forward when we passed into law the Energy Policy Act of 2005. The bill expands the use of renewable fuels like ethanol, biodiesel, solar, wind, geothermal and biomass. It also increases use of nuclear power, research on hydrogen fuel cells and hybrid automobiles, and continues development of clean cola technology. But we must do far more and go much further. We must develop a wider and deeper portfolio of energy sources. All of our policy options are limited by our dependence of foreign sources of energy. We must continue to work to forge a balanced and realistic approach to energy production that protects the environment, expands our economy, strengthens our national security and moves American toward more control over its own destiny.”

Here are Senator Hagel's ratings by an Energy issues interest group.

American Coalition for Ethanol
2002 - 100%

From Project Vote Smart
Technorati tags: Sen. Chuck Hagel, Energy, Ethanol, Issues

Quote for today

"Investment in renewable energy and energy related projects is critical to address our nation’s growing energy needs."
-Chuck Hagel

Technorati tags: Chuck Hagel, Energy