The following appeared in the Tribune-Democrat on June 30, 2009. 

U.S. Rep. John Murtha, D-Johnstown, released a statement following the House's passage of the American Clean Energy and Security Act (HR 2454), also known as the Waxman-Markey bill, on Friday.

"For decades, Americans have demanded that we reduce our dependency on foreign energy, a dependency that both threatens our national security and increases our energy costs,"?said Murtha, who voted in favor of passage.

"But solving America's energy and environmental problems requires making tough decisions and taking immediate action. The American Clean Energy and Security Act will make America more energy independent and protect people from exorbitant energy costs in the future. It will create new businesses and millions of new jobs. It will reduce the pollution that threatens our environment and public health, and it will make America a worldwide leader in clean energy technology."

The complex bill would require the United States to reduce carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions by 17 percent from 2005 levels by 2020 and by 83 percent by midcentury.

Opponents have complained about the costs and say some industries will simply move their operations and jobs to countries that don't control greenhouse-gas emissions.

House Democratic leaders said the bill helped accomplish one of President Barack Obama's campaign promises and would make the United States a leader in international efforts to address climate change when negotiations take place in Denmark this year.

Murtha said he did not support the bill's original draft, but "legitimate compromises were made, including additional provisions to protect consumers and billions of dollars for carbon capture and sequestration technology that will ensure that coal will continue to be America's primary fuel for electricity generation."

The bill has wide support from numerous businesses and organizations, including the AFL-CIO, National Farmers Union, United Steelworkers and Alcoa, Murtha said.

"This was not an easy vote," he said. "But neither is it easy or right to wait another decade before Washington steps up to solve our energy and environmental needs."

The bill passed by a margin of 219-212.

Passage is expected to be tougher in the Senate.