[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 52 (Tuesday, April 26, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E767]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      LOOSEN THE GAS PRICE NOOSE!

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BOB FILNER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 26, 2005

  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, a gallon of regular gas in San Diego or 
Imperial Valley has been hovering around the outrageous price of $2.50, 
often reaching even higher. Even as the price per barrel of oil 
declines, the price at our local gas stations stays sky-high.
  Every time one of my constituents drives to work, drops a child off 
at school or drives away on vacation, hard-earned dollars go up in 
smoke. When our grocery stores have to pay more to get their groceries 
shipped in, they pass the extra cost on to their shoppers. What's the 
result? The whopping price of gas is choking our middle and working 
class--essentially levying a new tax when we can least afford it and 
boosting the profits of the oil companies!
  This is simply unacceptable. We must continue to fight to lower the 
price of gas and protect consumers. One year ago I called on the Bush 
Administration to take several steps to loosen the gas price noose, 
including suspending deliveries to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve; 
requesting an investigation of market failures and lack of competition; 
blocking mergers that allow oil companies to manipulate supplies; and 
implementing strong fuel economy standards to put more efficient and 
environmentally friendly cars on the road and lower consumption.
  An investigation by the Federal Trade Commission in August was 
inconclusive, and the White House has failed to take any steps to rein 
in oil companies or reduce gas prices. The energy bill we are 
considering this week also fails to responsibly tackle this problem, 
instead offering the same favors to oil companies. In the absence of 
effective leadership, consumers remain at the mercy of the price-
gougers.
  That's why I have now appealed directly to the Federal Trade 
Commission and the Attorney General to launch a broader investigation 
to determine whether the oil companies have engaged in illegal or anti-
competitive practices that contribute to the high gas prices.
  Additionally, I am fighting for passage of legislation known as the 
Gas Price Spike Act, that would implement a windfall tax when oil 
companies collect excessive profits, provide a tax credit for fuel 
efficient vehicles, and offer federal grants to reduce mass transit 
fares.
  I call on Congress and the Administration to support me in these 
efforts to inject fairness and competition into the market and end 
price gouging at the gas pump!

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