WASHINGTON – The Co-Chairs of the Electrification Caucus U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and U.S. Representatives Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.) and Kathy Castor (D-Fla.) released the following statement in response to President Biden’s latest proposals to address the energy price hikes brought on by Vladimir Putin’s unjustified war in Ukraine:
“Increasing our deployment of clean energy and adoption of energy-efficient electric heating and cooling systems is a national security issue, and it has become a global security imperative with Putin’s war of aggression in Ukraine. While it is important to take short-term measures to shield Americans from the energy burden brought on by Putin’s price hike, it has become painfully clear that true energy independence will never come from more fossil energy production.
“We appreciate President Biden’s commitment to fighting inflation and cutting energy costs for American families. Building electrification is one of the most practical actions to lower costs for American families, create jobs, improve air quality, and address the climate crisis.
“We urge the Biden Administration to take action to ramp up American manufacturing and adoption of electric appliances like heat pumps and work with the Senate to steer transformative investments in clean energy across the finish line.
“We will continue working closely with the Biden Administration to confront the climate crisis and to follow through on the President’s commitment today to achieve true and lasting American energy independence.”