Mr. Speaker, I am pleased that, on Monday, the House passed S.Con.Res. 103, though I am disappointed by the events that necessitated its consideration.  Last September, when the House considered H.R. 889, the Coast Guard Authorization Act, I expressed my concern about a provision that would have altered the existing evaluation and approval process for the Cape Wind project, a 420 megawatt offshore wind farm proposed for Horseshoe Shoal off the coast of Massachusetts.  That project is currently undergoing a thorough review process that is working with numerous federal and state agencies, as well as interested parties, to assess potential impacts to the environment, navigation and other areas of concern.  When the House and Senate went to conference, I wrote to the head House conferees, explaining the strong support in Rhode Island for the project and cautioning about the potential negative ramifications of the provision on the growing wind energy industry, which will help diversify our nation’s energy supply by providing a clean and renewable source to millions of Americans. 

Much to my dismay, during conference negotiations, a much broader restriction on the project was inserted – language that had not been considered by either the House or Senate – that would essentially circumvent the existing project by giving the governor of Massachusetts veto power over this particular project.  At a time when our nation’s economy is endangered by our dependence on foreign oil, we should be encouraging clean and renewable energy development, not blocking it.  To protest this last-minute back-room conference deal, I joined the gentleman from New Hampshire, Mr. Bass, in leading an effort to ask the House leadership to prevent the consideration of any final agreement on the Coast Guard bill that contained language endangering the Cape Wind project in Massachusetts.  I am pleased that widespread public opposition to the language forced it to be removed from the bill, and I will continue my efforts to promote the responsible development of clean and renewable energy in Congress. 

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.