Wide-Ranging Energy Independence Initiative.  Will pass H.R. 3221, New Direction for Energy Independence Act, which reduces our dependence on foreign oil with an historic investment in biofuels and other renewable energy sources; lowers energy costs with greater efficiency, cleaner energy, and smarter technology; creates new “green” jobs with new technologies; and reduces global warming.   Energy Independence/Global Warming.  Passed H.Res. 202, Committee Funding Resolution, which includes provisions to establish a House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming, to raise the visibility of these urgent issues, by a vote of 269-150, with 44 Republicans voting YEA.  No presidential signature required.   Renewable Fuels.  Passed H.R. 6, Repealing Big Oil Subsidies/Investing in Renewable Fuels, which repeals $14 billion in subsidies given to highly profitable Big Oil companies and instead invests those funds in clean, alternative energy sources, by a vote of 264-163, with 36 Republicans voting YEA.   Energy-Water Appropriations.  Passed H.R. 2641, FY 2008 Energy-Water Appropriations, which invests $3 billion, $1 billion more than the President’s request, to research global warming and take steps to reduce it, and includes a 50 percent increase over the President’s request for energy efficiency and renewable energy, including solar, wind and biofuels, by a bipartisan vote of 312 to 112, with 86 Republicans voting YEA.  The President has threatened to veto.   Interior-Environment Appropriations.  Passed H.R. 2643, FY 2008 Interior-Environment Appropriations, which fully funds the Clean Water Fund that the President proposed cutting by 37 percent, makes improving our national parks, national wildlife refuges, and national forests a key priority, and boosts basic research on climate change by 53 percent, by a vote of 272 to 155, with 48 Republicans voting YEA. The President has threatened to veto.   Preventing OPEC Price Fixing.  Passed H.R. 2264, No Oil Producing and Exporting Cartels Act (NOPEC), which authorizes the Justice Department to take legal action against OPEC state-controlled entities that participate in conspiracies to limit the supply, or fix the price, of oil, by a bipartisan vote of 345-72, with 125 Republicans voting YEA.  The President has threatened to veto.   Stopping Gasoline Price Gouging.  Passed H.R. 1252, Price Gouging Prevention Act, which sets criminal penalties for price gouging of gasoline, and permits states to bring lawsuits against wholesalers or retailers who engage in such practices, by a bipartisan vote of 284-141, with 56 Republicans voting YEA.  The President has threatened to veto.   Clean Water.  Passed H.R. 720, Clean Water State Revolving Fund, which provides a recommitment to the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, by authorizing $14 billion over the next four years, which helps local communities have clean lakes and streams, as well as safe drinking water, by a bipartisan vote of 303-108, with 79 Republicans voting YEA.  The President has threatened to veto.   Sewer Overflow Controls.  Passed H.R. 569, Sewer Overflow Control Grants, which responds to the growing public health hazard of sewer overflows by authorizing $1.8 billion for sewer overflow grants over the next five years, by a bipartisan vote of 367-58, with 139 Republicans voting YEA.   Usable Water Supply.  Passed H.R. 700, Pilot Projects for Increasing Usable Water Supply, which authorizes pilot projects to increase an area’s usable water supply – by encouraging innovation in water reclamation, reuse and conservation, by a bipartisan vote of 368-59, with 138 Republicans voting YEA.