Saturday, April 25, 2009

Posted: 24 Apr 2009 12:12 PM PDT

U.S. CITIZENS: A new bill has been introduced which has the potential to strike a decisive blow to the worldwide jihad. "This bill is in the first step in the legislative process," says GovTrack. "Introduced bills and resolutions first go to committees that deliberate, investigate, and revise them before they go to general debate. The majority of bills and resolutions never make it out of committee."

The new bill is called "H.R. 1476." It is also called the "Open Fuel Standard Act of 2009." Why is this bill so important? Because it can introduce competition into the fuels market. Right now oil has a monopoly. Read more about why a new flex fuel law is so important.

"Powerful people on both ends of the political spectrum – from President Obama to former House Speaker Newt Gingrich – have called for implementation of flex fuel technology," says Lisa Piraneo, Director of Government Relations for ACT! for America. "Flex fuel vehicles already exist and they only cost about $100 more than the same car in a gasoline-only version. It is a simple and inexpensive modification that should be standard in cars, like seatbelts or airbags.

"This important legislative proposal is plain common sense, good for our economy, and good for our national security as it is a huge step in the direction of reducing our dependence on oil from nations that wish us harm." The following are AFA's recommended actions you can take to help make this bill a new law:

Please contact your Representative (in the U.S. House of Representatives) TODAY, via letter, e-mail or phone call, and ask him/her to sign on to H.R. 1476 as a COSPONSOR. If you learn that your Member of Congress is already a cosponsor – BE SURE TO SAY THANK YOU! Click here for contact information for your Representative.

If your Member of Congress serves on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, please also request that H.R. 1476 be attached to the Waxman-Markey American Clean Energy Security Act, a larger energy bill that is scheduled to be voted on by the Committee in the immediate future. (For list of committee members, see below).

DETAILS OF LEGISLATION

Bill number:	H.R. 1476
Bill name:	Open Fuel Standard Act of 2009
Date introduced:	March 12, 2009
Sponsor:	Representative Eliot Engel (D-17th/NY)
Current Cosponsors:	Representatives: Allyson Schwartz (D-PA); Bruce Braley (D-IA); Roscoe Bartlett (R-MD); Steve Israel (D-NY); John Barrow (D-GA); Bob Inglis (R-SC)
Committee of Jurisdiction:	House Committee on Energy and Commerce
Summary of Proposal:	Requires that auto manufacturers ensure that not less than 80 percent of automobiles manufactured or sold in the U.S. (by each manufacturer) operate on fuel mixtures containing 85 percent ethanol, 85 percent methanol, or biodiesel.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP WITH THIS
IMPORTANT LEGISLATIVE PROPOSAL.

Members of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce

Members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee

Democrats (36)

Henry A. Waxman, 30^th-CA (Chair)
John D. Dingell, 15^th-MI
Edward J. Markey, 7^th-MA
Rick Boucher – 9^th-VA
Frank Pallone, Jr. – 6^th-NJ
Bart Gordon, 6^th-TN
Bobby L. Rush, 1^st-IL
Anna G. Eshoo, 14^th-CA
Bart Stupak, 1^st-MI
Eliot Engel, 17^th-NY
Gene Green, 29^th-TX
Diana DeGette, 1^st-CO
Lois Capps, 23^rd-CA
Mike Doyle, 14^th-PA
Jane Harman, 36^th-CA
Janice D. Schakowsky, 9^th-IL
Charles A. Gonzalez, 20^th-TX
Jay Inslee, 1^st-WA
Tammy Baldwin, 2^nd-WI
Mike Ross, 4^th-AR
Anthony Weiner, 9^th-NY
Jim Matheson, 2^nd-UT
G.K. Butterfield, 1^st-NC
Charlie Melancon, 3^rd-LA
John Barrow, 12^th-GA
Baron Hill, 9^th-IN
Doris O. Matsui, 5^th-CA
Donna M. Christensen, VI
Kathy Castor, 11^th-FL
John P. Sarbanes, 3^rd-MD
Christopher S. Murphy, 5^th-CT
Zack Space, 18^th-OH
Jerry McNerney, 11^th-CA
Betty Sutton, 13^th-OH
Bruce L. Braley, 1^st-IA
Peter Welch, At Large-VT

Republicans (23)

Joe Barton, 6^th-TX, Rnk. Mem.
Ralph M. Hall, 4^th-TX
Fred Upton, 6^th-MI
Cliff Stearns, 6^th-FL
Nathan Deal, 9^th-GA
Ed Whitfield, 1^st-KY
John Shimkus, 19^th-IL
John B. Shadegg, 3^rd-AZ
Roy Blunt, 7^th-MO
Steve Buyer, 4^th-IN
George Radanovich, 19^th-CA
Joseph R. Pitts, 16^th-PA
Mary Bono Mack, 45^th-CA
Greg Walden, 2^nd-OR
Lee Terry, 2^nd-NE
Michael J. Rogers, 8^th-MI
Sue Myrick, 9^th-NC
John Sullivan, 1^st-OK
Tim Murphy, 18^th-PA
Michael C. Burgess, 26^th-TX
Marsha Blackburn, 7^th-TN
Phil Gingrey, 11^th-GA
Steve Scalise, 1^st-LA

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How a bill becomes a law:

1. First the bill is introduced. This one was introduced Mar 12, 2009.

2. The bill is then referred to a committee. That is where HR 1476 is right now.

3. Then the committee gives their report to the House and Senate. This has not happened yet. HR 1476 is still in committee.

4. Then the bill is voted on in House and Senate.

5. Then the bill is signed into law by the President.

Let's get this bill to the final stage. Tell everyone you know, and urge them to take the two actions above. Don't let up until it has become law.