Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., said today that senators are not "scaling back" their efforts to pass climate and energy legislation that includes a cap on greenhouse gas emissions. "Our goal remains exactly what it was before: to price carbon and to create a target for reduction of emissions that is real," he said. "That is the goal."

In a forceful speech opening an energy forum on the Hill this morning, Kerry sought to refute the premise of a report in today's New York Times that suggests senators are "turning their sights to a more modest package of climate and energy measures."

"Nothing could be further from the truth," Kerry retorted, prompting an eruption of applause from the audience. "We're not scaling back our efforts. We haven't changed our goals one bit. We're simply trying to figure out what the magic formula is to get 60 votes."

Kerry said a price on carbon is crucial to create a stable marketplace for investors. He didn't specify what type of system -- an economy-wide cap-and-trade, a cap-and-dividend, a utilities-only cap -- would be the most appropriate and the most likely to garner a filibuster-proof 60 votes.

The senator also criticized the United States for falling behind its global counterparts in the renewables energy race. "We invented those technologies. And other countries are taking those from the laboratory to the shelves," Kerry said. "We ought to be ashamed of ourselves. It's absolutely shocking what's going on."

While China other countries are acting on climate change and clean energy, Kerry added, the United States is stalling. "We're sitting around not even putting our finger in the dike, pretending it's not leaking," he said. "It's the most bizarre thing I've ever seen in the context of leadership."

The event today, called the Clean Energy, Jobs and Security Forum, deals with national security, agricultural policy and economic opportunities with clean energy. Other lawmakers scheduled to speak today include Sens. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., and Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio. Administration officials slated to speak include President Obama's climate and energy czar, Carol Browner, and Energy Secretary Steven Chu.

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