Rep. Ed Markey
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Edward J. Markey has constructed an extraordinary legislative record since his first election to the United States Congress in 1976. As one of the most senior Members in Congress, he has shaped more than 20 years of telecommunications policy while championing consumer rights, health reform, the elimination of large monopolies, the conservation of environmental resources, the reduction of nuclear threats and the strengthening of our homeland security.
He is one of the most informed voices in Congress concerning both energy and environmental policy, and he has consistently championed consumer rights, clean tech, energy efficiency and environmental protection.

Rep. Markey’s legislative record spans the breadth of Congressional policymaking reflecting his position as a senior member of three key committees: the Natural Resources Committee, where he currently serves as Ranking Member, the Energy and Commerce Committee, and the Committee on Homeland Security. Markey also had the honor of Chairing the House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming during the 110th and 111th Congresses.
On Energy and Commerce, Rep. Markey was the Chairman of Energy and Environment subcommittee in the 111th Congress, and served Chair/Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet for 27 years.
In addition, he is the co chair of bipartisan Caucuses on Nonproliferation, on Privacy, on Alzheimer’s disease, and on Cystic Fibrosis. He is a fighter for the welfare of his constituents in the blue-collar and high-tech communities of his district north and west of downtown Boston and, as the dean of the Massachusetts delegation in the House, he also works to harness the energy and influence of his colleagues on behalf of the entire Commonwealth.

Competition remains Chairman Markey’s economic mantra–in his words, “ruthless Darwinian competition that would bring a smile to Adam Smith.” Accordingly, he has been instrumental in breaking up anti-consumer, anti-innovative monopolies in electricity, long-distance and local telephone service, cable television, and international satellite services. He was one of the only members of the Commerce Committee to fight AT&T’s monopoly in the early 80s and is a principal author of the requirement that the Bell Operating companies accept local telephone service in the 90s. His pro-competition policies have directly benefited job creation in Eastern Massachusetts and throughout the country. Rep. Markey is a champion for Net Neutrality and nondiscrimination on the Internet and for new sources of effective competition to cable TV franchises, local telephone operators, and satellite and other wireless services.

On energy and the environment, Markey led the effort to pass the landmark Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, which boosted fuel economy for cars and trucks to 35 MPG by 2020 -the first increase in fuel economy in 32 years. He also co-author of the Waxman-Markey American Clean Energy & Security Act –the comprehensive energy and climate bill that included a Renewable Energy Standard, and a cap on dangerous carbon pollution.

He was one of the principal authors of HR 6, one of the first bills to pass the 110th Congress, seeking to recover $14 billion in unnecessary tax incentives to the oil and gas industry and redirecting that funding to a new fund for incentives for energy efficiency, renewable and alternative fuels. He led the effort to pass the landmark 1987 National Appliance Energy Conservation Act which has eliminated the need for hundreds of large carbon-emitting electric power plants by setting minimum energy efficiency standards for major energy-consuming household appliances such as air-conditioners, refrigerators and washer-dryers. His amendment to the Clean Air Act ensured that energy efficiency would be credited under the cap-and-trade system that has reduced acid rain.

In addition to leading the effort to raise the minimum fuel efficiency standards for cars and light trucks sold in America, and he has led the effort to prevent oil and gas drilling in the federally-protected Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The ongoing oil and gas drilling activity on the North Slope already leads to greenhouse gas emissions that exceed the emissions of Washington DC. From 1985-1987, he chaired the Energy and Commerce Committee’s Energy Conservation and Power Subcommittee, and from 1980-1984 he chaired the House Interior Committee’s Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee. He also serves as an honorary Co-Chairman of the Board of Directors of the nonprofit Alliance to Save Energy.

On the House Homeland Security Committee, Rep. Markey has focused on closing gaps in our homeland defenses, particularly in the areas of nuclear, aviation, rail, liquefied natural gas and chemical security. National Journal named Rep. Markey to its “Homeland Security 100”, a list of the top leaders influencing homeland security policy, identifying him as “a tenacious watchdog, relentlessly prodding the Bush Administration to crack down on what he sees as critical gaps in the nation’s security. He is a key leader on providing privacy protections for personal information such as medical records, financial records, and purchases on-line. Rep. Markey is also leading the reform of the Food and Drug Administration, which continues to prevent important information concerning drug safety from being readily available to the public. As a leading consumer advocate in Congress, Rep. Markey continues his legislative efforts to protect consumers from fatal fires through the establishment of the first federal standard for cigarette fire safety.

Blog Entries by Rep. Ed Markey

The Grand Canyon: Not for Sale

0 Comments | Posted January 16, 2012 | 10:40 PM

In the late 1960s, the daredevil Evel Kneivel lobbied the United States Government to jump over the Grand Canyon on his motorcycle. Believe it or not, jumping over the Grand Canyon has now become the second-craziest idea ever proposed about our nation's most iconic natural feature.

That is because the...

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Driven to Change

0 Comments | Posted July 29, 2011 | 6:20 PM

President Obama and U.S. automakers have announced the latest phase of fuel economy standards, moving to 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025. This big win for consumers will result in a total savings of 3.5 million barrels of oil a day by 2030 compared to what we would...

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America Needs a New START

0 Comments | Posted December 20, 2010 | 10:31 AM

As the Senate begins its debate on the New Strategic Arms Treaty (START), they need to ask themselves the question - do we want to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear bomb that could someday be used to attack Israel or other U.S. allies? Because that is the situation Sen....

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Time to Move Like the Wind to Save Clean Energy

0 Comments | Posted December 8, 2010 | 1:53 PM

The framework tax deal announced this week by President Obama and GOP leaders in the Senate threatens to kill jobs in one of the sectors our nation needs most -- clean energy.

In its current form, the deal would allow the only effective federal support mechanism for renewable electricity...

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Building Online Ramps to Equal Access

0 Comments | Posted October 7, 2010 | 4:40 PM

By Congressman Edward J. Markey, Mike Festa and Steven M. Rothstein

If you're an individual who's blind, deaf or both, navigating an intersection can be a challenge - but navigating the Internet can sometimes be even more difficult. That's because laws to ensure equal treatment for Americans with disabilities have...

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Just in Time for Halloween, Virginia A.G. Cuccinelli Raises His Failed Fraud Investigation From the Dead

0 Comments | Posted October 7, 2010 | 12:14 PM

In another disturbing instance of politically-motivated intimidation of climate scientists, last week Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli issued a new civil investigative demand (CID) to the University of Virginia for emails and documents related to Dr. Michael Mann. This follows on an earlier demand issued by Cuccinelli that was fought...

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Dangerous Climate Picture Impossible to Ignore

0 Comments | Posted August 30, 2010 | 10:17 AM

The headlines from the hottest year-to-date on record paint a dangerous climate picture, consistent with the overwhelming scientific evidence.

Scientists, skeptical by both nature and training, always urge a dose of caution when looking at any one event as evidence of climate change. They look at the totality...

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Oil Industry's "Island Vacations" from Regulation

0 Comments | Posted June 25, 2010 | 2:58 PM

When BP CEO Tony Hayward left the Gulf oil spill disaster last week to captain his yacht, Bob, in the JP Morgan Chase Asset Management Round the Island race off the coast of England, it was seen as emblematic of the corporate leader's poor handling of the disaster.

Hayward may...

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Waking America From the BP Nightmare

0 Comments | Posted June 15, 2010 | 3:37 PM

57 days ago, in the dead of night, the worst environmental nightmare in U.S. history began.

The spill cam, requested by Congress, has brought the horror into homes across the country, as we watch tens of thousands of barrels of oil billowing into the Gulf every day.

...
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The 40-Day Pledge on the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day

0 Comments | Posted April 22, 2010 | 4:34 PM

Today, on the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, we celebrate the millions of actions, taken around the world, that help make the planet we all share a better place.

The spirit of Earth Day -- leaving the planet in a better state than when we entered it -- is an...

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Faces of an American Recovery: Clean Energy Jobs

0 Comments | Posted March 11, 2010 | 1:11 PM

The Recovery Act reoriented America to the future and refocused our efforts on our strengths. Our strength has always been our ability to innovate. Our weakness is our addiction to oil.

The tax credits and $90 billion clean energy investment in the Recovery Act has been a launching...

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Palin: Birthing Global Warming Denial

0 Comments | Posted December 9, 2009 | 5:27 PM

"A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is still putting on its shoes" --Mark Twain (attributed)

It was only a matter of time before the manufactured controversy over stolen climate emails made its way halfway around the world to Wasilla, Alaska.

The right-wing misinformation machine is...

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Time for Net Neutrality

0 Comments | Posted October 29, 2009 | 11:40 PM

Last week, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) took a historic step towards developing new rules to safeguard the free and open nature of the Internet, fulfilling a key campaign promise of President Obama's and kicking off a process that has been years in the making.

If adopted, the Commission's net...

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Mitt Romney's Fuzzy Math on Clean Energy Legislation

0 Comments | Posted October 7, 2009 | 6:19 PM

Today former Governor Mitt Romney released a video--and a contribution plea--targeting the clean energy and climate legislation currently moving through Congress. Problem is, Romney does not seem to quite know what proposal he opposes, or the real figures on Congress' actual proposal.

In his campaign missive, Romney hones in on...

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Climate Week Is Key Stop on Road to Copenhagen

0 Comments | Posted September 21, 2009 | 6:13 PM

This week, leaders from around the world will gather in New York and Pittsburgh for "climate week" with a keen eye on the home team. Key meetings at the United Nations and the G-20 Summit will set the table for the Copenhagen conference -- just over 70 days...

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Clunker Success Proves Clean Energy Legislation Is a Win for Consumers and the Economy

0 Comments | Posted July 31, 2009 | 4:00 PM

Generally it's a sports car that turns heads on the highway. This week it was all those jalopies headed to the dealership.

The overwhelming success of the Cash for Clunkers program, which provides rebates for those who want to upgrade to more fuel efficient, new vehicles, shows

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Landing a Clean Energy Victory

0 Comments | Posted July 20, 2009 | 9:57 AM

Forty years ago today, Americans sat transfixed in front of televisions sets watching the first landing on the Moon. We had just won the space race, meeting a technological and political challenge issued by President Kennedy a mere eight years earlier. It was, in Armstrong's words, "one small step for...

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The White House, the House and the Senate: a Clean Sweep for Clean Energy

0 Comments | Posted November 13, 2008 | 4:36 PM

On election day, voters in record numbers sent a message to the world. The United States will now be the leader, not the laggard in the race for clean energy technology and the fight against global warming. After eight years of energy policy written by Big Oil and

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Oil Speculators Cost Consumers $31 Billion this Summer

0 Comments | Posted August 22, 2008 | 4:58 PM

As oil prices continued to rise steadily on world markets during the early part of 2008, it became clear to many energy and economic experts around the world that supply and demand were not the only forces pushing prices higher. Market speculators who had no intent of accepting delivery of...

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Cap & Invest: iCAP -- Consumer and Technology Focused Global Warming Legislation

0 Comments | Posted June 6, 2008 | 12:21 PM

Congratulations to the Huffington Post for launching a special "green" section in order to highlight environment and energy issues. Joining the chorus of millions who have taken extra steps -- both large and small -- to help save our planet.

It is now time for Washington to take a...

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