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WASHINGTON—In remarks on the Senate floor today, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, Vice-Chairman of the Senate Republican Conference, voiced his concern with the negative effect the Climate Security Bill, S. 3036, under consideration by the Senate this week, would have on Texas jobs and energy costs. Sen. Cornyn also expressed his disappointment with the decision by the Senate Democratic Leader to deny Republican Senators an opportunity to introduce amendments aimed at improving the legislation and protecting hard-working Americans. “There's no one among us who does not care about the environment. I don't know any person of goodwill alive who doesn’t care about the quality of the air we breathe and the cleanliness of the water that we drink. But to say that no member of the United States Senate can offer an amendment unless the Majority Leader gives the green light…is not a demonstration, from my perspective, of a desire to have an open debate,” Sen. Cornyn said today. “Under the Boxer Climate Tax Bill that we have before us on the floor of the United States Senate, it's estimated that 334,000 of my constituents would lose their jobs,” Sen. Cornyn said today. “Why would they lose their job? Well, because this bill would be like a wet blanket on the economy -- raising electricity prices and raising gas prices on everything from agriculture to small businesses…That's on top of the extra $1,400 that most Texas households are currently having to pay because of increased gas prices, due to the obstruction of Congress in failing to allow development of American natural resources.” In his speech this morning, and again in a conference call with members of the Texas media this afternoon, Sen. Cornyn continued to challenge Senate Democrats to join him in working to address rising gas prices by strengthening domestic energy production. He highlighted today’s announcement by Houston-based Continental Airlines that it was eliminating 3,000 jobs because of high fuel prices as an example of the consequences of inaction. “This is yet another victim – these 3,000 people – of Congress’ unwillingness to simply get out of the way and facilitate production of more energy here in America,” Sen. Cornyn said. “In a State like Texas, which is home to three major airlines – Continental, Southwest and American – we have an awful lot of people who depend on those airlines for their employment. And high energy and fuel costs threaten that, not to mention the solvency of pension plans for which a lot of retirees depend on. This is another example of why Congress needs to lift the moratorium on domestic energy production.” Last month, Senate Democrats blocked consideration of the American Energy Production Act, sponsored by Senator Cornyn and others, which would strengthen domestic energy production by exploring in ANWR, additional outer continental shelves, shale areas, and provide for increased refinery capacity. Sen. Cornyn serves on the Armed Services, Judiciary and Budget Committees. In addition, he is Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Ethics. He serves as the top Republican on the Judiciary Committee’s Immigration, Border Security and Refugees subcommittee and the Armed Services Committee’s Airland subcommittee. He served previously as Texas Attorney General, Texas Supreme Court Justice, and Bexar County District Judge.