[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 140 (Friday, October 28, 2005)]
[House]
[Page H9366]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
ENERGY CRISIS
(Mr. EMANUEL asked and was given permission to address the House for
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker, while American families and businesses
struggle with sky-high energy prices, oil and gas companies are facing
an entirely different crisis: What to do with all their money.
Yesterday, Exxon Mobil reported that its profits increased 75 percent
in the third quarter, $9 billion. American families are struggling
while energy companies are reaping huge profits, but the oil companies
are unapologetic.
In fact, Henry Hubble, Exxon Mobil's vice president for investor
relations, defended the profits and said, ``You have got to let the
marketplace work.''
Mr. Speaker, I could not agree more. The oil companies should take
their historic profits and use it to execute their business plans, and
that is also why oil companies should give back the $16.5 billion in
taxpayer subsidies that the Republican Congress has given to the energy
companies in the past 4 months.
Mr. Speaker, right now Americans are paying twice: Once at the pumps
and then again on April 15 when they file their taxes. That is not the
free market, it is corporate welfare. What Congress subsidizes big oil
to the tune of $16.5 billion, yet cuts home heating assistance to the
elderly? A Republican Congress. Exxon said let the free market work.
Let us get rid of corporate welfare for the big oil companies.
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