[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 131 (Monday, October 17, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2101-E2102]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


              GASOLINE FOR AMERICA'S SECURITY ACT OF 2005

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. DENNIS MOORE

                               of kansas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 7, 2005

  Mr. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 3893, the 
Gasoline for America's Security Act.
  While I believe our Nation needs to improve and increase our refining 
capacity, I voted against H.R. 3893, because it would weaken and 
eliminate important public health and environmental regulations. 
Specifically, H.R. 3893 would delay existing smog cleanup deadlines in 
cities with some of the most persistent smog problems--a provision that 
would likely hurt minority and low-income areas the worst. In addition, 
this legislation is not only harmful to the environment but it also 
creates a fiscally irresponsible ``Standby Refinery Support Account,'' 
which would compensate corporations if their refinery construction is 
delayed by State or local laws or litigations. At a time when some 
refineries are turning record profits, taxpayers should not be paying 
for the legal costs of refineries, when they are facing legitimate 
challenges to their evasion of State, local, or Federal regulations.
  Instead, I supported a substitute amendment offered by Representative 
Bart Stupak, which would: Create a strategic refinery reserve based 
upon the strategic petroleum reserve; allow the President to declare a 
``Federal energy emergency''; and prohibit gasoline price gouging in 
times of such emergencies. Under this substitute amendment, the 
Department of Energy, DOE, would operate a strategic refinery reserve 
from either constructing new refineries or opening closed refineries to 
create this reserve, which would have a capacity of 5 percent of the 
daily U.S. demand for gasoline, home heating oil, and other refined 
petroleum products. I believe this is an important proposal, which 
would help address our strained refining capacity in times of 
emergency. In addition, the substitute amendment would provide explicit 
authority for the FTC to define price gouging for the first time, and 
would provide them with the authority to prosecute any entity in the 
chain of gasoline production, including refineries and not just 
retailers, for engaging in price gouging.
  Hurricanes Katrina and Rita further highlighted the instability of 
energy prices and the fragility of our Nation's energy infrastructure, 
particularly our domestic refining capacity.
  Prior to Hurricane Katrina, our domestic refining industry was 
already operating at near capacity, with 176 refineries closing in the 
U.S. over the past 25 years. While we need to strengthen our energy 
infrastructure, it is essential that the Federal Government does not do 
this at the expense of important environmental regulations, which 
protect the safety and health of our communities.

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