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H.R. 2701 -- the Transportation Energy Security and Climate Change Mitigation Act of 2007 -- affects programs in almost every area of the Committee's jurisdiction

The full House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure today completed action on a broad-ranging bill to help promote energy security and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The Transportation Energy Security and Climate Change Mitigation Act of 2007 (H.R. 2701) affects programs in nearly every area of the Committee’s jurisdiction, especially surface transportation, aviation, public buildings, and water resources.

“These are very pragmatic, doable initiatives,” said Rep. James L. Oberstar (Minn.), Chairman of the full Committee. “Each of these provisions is a single modest step, but add them together and they can make a significant difference in our daily lives.”

In brief, the bill would:

• Reduce dependence on fossil fuels and mitigate carbon emissions by promoting greater public transit use;
• Provide additional funding for the use of green technologies by transit systems and railroads;
• Promote short-sea shipping as an alternative to land-based freight transportation;
• Establish a program to develop cleaner, quieter engines for jet aircraft;
• Require the General Services Administration to use energy efficient and renewable energy systems in Federal government buildings;
• Direct the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to study the potential for increased hydroelectric power generation at its facilities

and

• Direct the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to study its ability to respond to an increased number of natural disasters created or intensified by global climate change.