President Signs Energy Policy Act of 2005

WASHINGTON - President Bush today signed the Energy Policy Act of 2005. U.S. Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, issued the following statement:

"I want to thank President Bush for his leadership and efforts on the Energy Policy Act of 2005. I also want to once again express my appreciation and admiration to Sens. Pete Domenici and Jeff Bingaman and Rep. John Dingell for their dedication to producing a bill that moves America forward. The process was dramatically more bipartisan, bicameral and public than Washington is used to witnessing, and that plainly contributed to the legislation's success.

"This energy bill is about America's future. It is well-crafted policy based on the free market with appropriate government oversight. It's a balanced bill and will move America toward energy independence.

"Our goal in writing this legislation was, very simply, to both ease demand, increase supply and save consumers and businesses money spent on energy. We want people free to save, invest and spend in ways that grow the economy. The energy bill will create thousands of new American jobs and protect thousands more."

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