Energy & Environment: Markey Wants Answers on Rare Earths
• Rep. Edward Markey, D-Mass., "is pressing the Obama administration for information about alleged Chinese restrictions on the export of rare earth minerals used in defense and energy technologies, warning of threats to U.S. interests," The Hill reports.
• "Three months after BP capped its runaway well in the Gulf of Mexico, the state of Louisiana is still building a chain of sand berms off its coast to block and capture oil even as federal officials and many scientists argue that the effort will prove pointless," the New York Times reports.
• An Idaho couple has "sued the state to stop the shipments by Imperial Oil and ConocoPhillips" to an oil sands site in Canada, "arguing that the" truck loads delivered there "would threaten the integrity of Idaho's historic portion of U.S. 12, as well as the safety of communities that depend on it as the main road in and out of the area," the Times also reports. "National environmental groups and climate change activists are supporting their efforts, seeing a broader opportunity to stall development of Canada's oil sands, which they denounce as a dirty source of energy. "
• "Combating climate change has long taken a back seat to coal production in West Virginia, but in the hard-fought House race in this state's 1st district, global warming hasn't even made it onto the bus," The Hill reports. "In interviews on Thursday, both the Democratic and Republican nominees for Congress voiced skepticism of the science behind global warming, and the Republican, David McKinley, flatly called concerns about climate change 'an attack on coal.'"
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Rep. Fred Upton, R-Mich.
Biography provided by participant
Congressman Fred Upton has represented the commonsense values of southwest Michigan since 1987. In 2010, Fred was selected by his House colleagues to serve as Chairman of the Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Prior to his election to Congress, Fred worked for President Ronald Reagan in the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). While at OMB, he learned from President Reagan's example that it does not matter who gets the credit, as long as the job gets done.
Fred has a well-earned reputation for getting things done in Washington and at home in southwest Michigan. The South Bend Tribune writes that Fred "attacks government spending and wants tax cuts retained and the budget balanced." Fred's hometown paper, The Herald Palladium, praises Fred as someone who has "consistently fought against out-of-control spending and bigger government" and has "always treated constituent services as a vital part of his job."
He previously served as the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Energy and Environment (2007-2010), a critical position as the nation seeks to fortify its energy supply and reduce its dependence on foreign oil. In the 111th Congress, Fred was selected as co-chair of the House Republicans' American Energy Solutions Group, which is focused on lowering energy prices for American families and small businesses through the development of domestic energy sources. Fred strongly supports an "all of the above" approach with a greater emphasis on domestic exploration, the advancement of breakthrough technologies, and the development of nuclear power. Fred has also been a leading opponent of cap-and-trade legislation and needless EPA regulations that stifle growth, kill jobs, and raise energy costs.
As former Chairman of the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee (1999-2000), Fred values our constitutional system of government checks and balances. Fred is focused on ensuring the federal government remains limited, transparent, and accountable, as our Founding Fathers intended. He is fighting for Congress to reassert its oversight authority to hold unelected bureaucrats and government "czars" accountable to the American people. He also supports restoring transparency to the legislative process by requiring legislation be made publicly available well in advance of a vote, and that there is ample opportunity to debate all legislation.
As former Chairman (2001-2006) of the House Subcommittee on Communication and Technology, Fred has worked to increase the deployment of telecommunications services as well as ensure that free speech and private innovation remain the hallmarks of this industry by opposing needless regulation. Fred helped oversee the successful transition from analog to digital broadcasting - one of the top priorities of the 9-11 Commission. Fred has also worked to guarantee that our children are protected from online predators and indecent material.
A former member of the Subcommittee on Health, Fred has pushed for a greater emphasis on biomedical research to improve the public health. As Energy and Commerce Chairman, one of Fred's top priorities is to repeal the President's costly, job-killing health care law in its entirety.
Fred was born on April 23, 1953 and holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Michigan. He and his wife, Amey, have two children.
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