"Solar power is a big idea, whose time has come. And, like the space program, solar is an idea that can shape our nation in significant and positive ways. In the coming months, in the coming years, we will face critical decisions on how to address climate change, reduce our dependence on foreign energy, and boost our economic competitiveness. The beauty of solar power is that it offers an elegant solution to all three of these challenges. Imagine what it would be like if every time that it rained it rained oil, big black drops falling from the sky."

Gabrielle Giffords, opening statement at meeting of Subcommittee on Energy and Environment, March 17, 2008