Scorecard Links
Introduction | How the Votes are Scored | Key House Votes | Key Senate Votes
FL Delegation | GA Delegation | NC Delegation | SC Delegation | TN Delegation
Key House Votes
Tax Credits for Clean, Renewable EnergyVote #1
Although the House of Representatives repeatedly passed legislation in 2007 to extend renewable energy tax credits, the Senate failed to muster the final vote needed to include the critical measure in the 2007 Energy Bill. In 2008, the House made multiple attempts to extend the soon-to-expire tax credits to incentivize clean, renewable energy production. The first attempt, the Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act of 2008 (H.R. 5351), would extend the Internal Revenue Code Section 45 credit for the production of electricity from renewable resources for three years, through 2011, paid for by amending certain tax provisions for the oil and gas industry. On February 27, the House approved the bill by a vote of 236 to 182 (House Roll Call vote #84). YES was the clean energy vote.
Vote #2
In the spring, the House Ways and Means Committee developed an economic stimulus bill, the Renewable Energy and Job Creation Act (HR 6049), designed to generate economic activity and create new jobs, which included provisions to extend renewable energy production and investment tax credits. The bill also included incentives for energy efficiency, renewable fuels and clean vehicles. On May 21, the House passed the bill by a vote of 263 to 160 (House Roll Call vote #344). YES was the clean energy vote. [These tax credits were finally extended on October 3, as a small part of the $700 billion dollar “Financial Bailout Bill,” through a Motion to Concur on Sen. Amendments to HR 1424: Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (House Roll Call vote #681).]
Energy Efficiency & Clean Energy
Vote #3
Inefficiently-designed buildings consume more energy, generate more global warming pollution and cost more to operate than energy-efficient spaces. As Congress considered the HOPE VI Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2007 (HR 2534) it required federally funded housing developments for low-income and elderly to meet modest efficiency standards. However, Rep. Capito (R-WV) offered an amendment to weaken the standards and remove certain green-building standards. On January 17, the House defeated the amendment by a vote of 169 to 240 (House Roll Call vote #16). NO was the clean energy vote.
Vote #4:
Speaker Pelosi spearheaded an initiative in the Fall of 2008 to enact comprehensive energy policy to save money for consumers, expand energy efficiency and renewable energy, create new “green jobs” and increase the domestic energy supply. Building on earlier efforts throughout the year, the Comprehensive America Energy Security & Consumer Protection Act (HR 6899) included an extension of crucial renewable energy tax credits; a Renewable Energy Standard (RES) of 15% by 2020; and royalty reform for oil and gas companies. However, during consideration of the bill, Rep. Peterson (R-PA) offered a motion to severely weaken the bill by deleting the RES, opening public lands and coastal waters to increased drilling and increasing federal subsidies oil shale development. The House defeated this motion on September 16 by a vote of 191 to 226 (House Roll Call vote #598). NO was the clean energy vote.
High Carbon Fuels
Vote #5
Despite historic and overwhelming public support for continued protection of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), there have been repeated attempts by members of Congress to permit drilling in the refuge. While the House considered the 2009 budget resolution, Rep. Ryan (R-WI) offered a Motion to Instruct conferees that would have authorized drilling in environmentally sensitive and protected areas, such as ANWR, the Outer Continental Shelf and on public lands throughout the west. On May 14, the House rejected the motion by a vote of 185 to 229 (House Roll Call vote #321). NO was the clean energy vote.
Vote #6
Section 526 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 prevents the federal government from purchasing fuels that produce more global warming pollution than conventional petroleum, and it is an important measure in reducing our nation’s greenhouse gas emissions. However, there were attempts in 2008 to repeal Section 526 as Congress considered Defense authorization bills. On June 18, while Congress considered H.R. 6063 (the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act), a Motion to Recommit failed by a vote of 196 to 225 (House Roll Call vote #420). NO was the clean energy vote.
Vote #7
In the summer of 2008, concern over high gas prices led some members of Congress to call for increased oil exploration by issuing new oil and gas leases on federal lands in the Outer Continental Shelf. On July 17, the House considered a bill (HR 6515: Drill Responsibly in Leased Lands Act of 2008) to require that oil and gas companies use existing leases before taking out new leases. The vote was held under a suspension of the rules to cut debate short and required a two-thirds majority to pass. The bill did not receive support from two-thirds of the members and so failed by a vote of 244 to 173 (House Roll Call vote #511). YES was the clean energy vote.