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Yes, the US should be held to a higher environmental standard than the rest of the world. We have benefited from a superior economic growth powered by consumption of a major share of the world's fossil fuels, causing a major share of the world's environmental pollution. We are technically equipped to lead toward a higher environmental standard. Currently, however, it would be a major challenge for the US to assume this leadership role. We will have to wait for a new administration that, hopefully, will want this role for us.

The Bush administration has continued to reject actions to reduce global warming pollution. It has refused to require cuts in heat-trapping carbon dioxide pollution, significantly raise fuel economy requirements, or hold companies accountable for improving their energy efficiency using wind, solar and other renewable energy sources. In his final FY2009 budget request, President Bush accurately reflected his administration's low priority for environmental help.

Again, President Bush stripped critical funds protecting America's communities and natural resources, and instead rewarded dirty industries. All of this followed his State of the Union Address touting his commitment to advance clean, renewable resources and reduce dependence on oil. A quote from President Bush' speech on energy was "The United States is committed to strengthening our energy security and confronting global climate change. And the best way to meet these goals is for America to continue leading the way toward the development of cleaner and more energy-efficient technology".

Despite the president's more aggressive statements on fighting climate change, his budget request would reduce funding for energy efficiency and renewable energy such as wind, solar, etc. The president gets much of that reduction by slashing funding from $280 million to $60 million for low-income households to "weatherize" their homes with new windows, better insulation and other efforts.

As a frame of reference, the Green Budget, which is used in Congress' budget deliberations, recommends a FY2009 Weatherizing budget of $300 million dollars. On average, the Department of Energy has stated that weatherizing reduces heating bills by 31 percent and overall energy bills by $358 per year. The total 2009 request for Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, a major Department of Energy agency, is $1.255 billion, a 27 percent cut from the 2008 level of $1.722 billion. The Green Budget recommendation

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