Each January I ring in the New Year by pledging to keep a resolution I first made in 1980 when the people of Iowa hired me to represent them in the U.S. Senate. Every year I make certain to visit with Iowans face-to-face in each of our 99 counties. As I launch my 23rd annual road trip across Iowa, I know I can count on one issue that gets brought up almost as much as the weather. And that’s the price of a gallon of gas.
Most folks realize the United States is energy dependent. That means we consume more energy than we produce. Our national economy hinges in large measure to our energy security. And until we become more energy independent, our national security and economic prosperity will be tied to foreign policy and the whims of OPEC.
With the looming possibility of military action in Iraq and unfolding instability in oil-rich Venezuela, the price Iowans pay to "fill’r up" is again inching north. Spending $10 bucks more a week or better to fill up the car eats into the monthly budget. If you’re a farmer purchasing fuel for spring planting or a trucker driving across the country, an extra dime per gallon eats into the bottom line.
As a farm state lawmaker, I’ve led efforts in Washington to reduce U.S. energy dependence by promoting home-grown renewable fuels like corn-based ethanol, soy diesel, biomass and wind energy. By harvesting these natural resources, Iowa holds the potential to become a net exporter of energy and help reduce the influence that the likes of Saddam Hussein has on what Americans pay at the pump.
In 1998, I fought and won the battle to extend the federal ethanol program through 2008. Two years ago, I lobbied the Environmental Protection Agency to make sure Big Oil didn’t get its way and effectively shut down the sale of ethanol in California. This year, I’ll continue to build on my legislative victories to expand the use of ethanol by as much as 5 billion gallons per year.
Beyond diversifying energy sources and ramping up domestic exploration and production, America must improve efforts to conserve energy and run our homes, businesses, and schools more efficiently. As an example, I’ve advanced public policy that promotes the use of energy-efficient appliances. There’s another simple way for consumers and the federal government to save energy and help keep the environment clean. You need look no further than how the rubber meets the road: Use retread tires. Manufactured by recycling tires with worn treads to make ones that are as good as new, retread tires are safe, affordable and cost-effective.
In addition to saving used tires from the landfill, retreading tires uses only a third of the oil required to produce a new tire. America’s trucking industry uses retread tires in more than 50 percent of replacements nationwide. The U.S. Postal Service and other well-known delivery fleets outfit their vehicles with retread tires.
By law the federal government is obligated when purchasing items of $10,000 or more to buy goods "composed of the highest percentage of recovered materials." That includes tires.
The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act authorizes the Environmental Protection Agency to regulate and administer how the federal government complies with this procurement law. The EPA has identified more than 50 products that may be manufactured using recycled products, including retread tires. I want to make sure the federal government is measuring up to the job. A good management philosophy says that which is measured gets the best results. So whether you’re flipping burgers, caring for nursing home residents or making purchasing decisions in a federal agency, it’s necessary to routinely review, analyze and quantify the input to ensure the desired outcome. A progress report would tell us which agencies are making the grade or spinning their wheels.
Last year I won support for an amendment to the comprehensive energy package passed by the Senate that would have required the General Services Administration to report on the federal government’s efforts to implement the procurement policies. However, Congress failed to reach final agreement on the energy package. That’s why I wrote in January to the GSA to request the report on this matter be completed and submitted to Congress by July 1, 2003.
The retread tire industry bears particular importance to Iowa. A business located near Muscatine serves as an approved supplier of retread tires to the Defense Department, the largest purchaser of tires in the federal government.
Holding the federal government accountable to these recycling standards would set a good example for private industry and consumers. And it would help maximize the benefits to the public and environment.
Meanwhile, I look forward to catching up with as many Iowans as possible on my annual road trip across the state. Please come see me with your questions or concerns when I’m in your neck of the woods. That’s how the rubber meets the road in representative government.