[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 51 (Wednesday, May 3, 2006)]
[House]
[Page H1984]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       BIGGEST REFINERY IN TEXAS

  (Mr. POE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. POE. Mr. Speaker, part of the reason gasoline prices have jumped 
to record highs is because there have been no new refineries or major 
refinery expansion in America. United States refineries are at 97 
percent capacity turning that black gold into gasoline at a rapid rate, 
but there is a tremendous demand for more refining capacity.
  Royal Dutch Shell has announced that the Motiva Refining Plant in 
Port Arthur, Texas, will expand to become the biggest refinery in the 
United States. Construction will begin next year. Currently, 
ExxonMobil, in Baytown, Texas, is the biggest refinery in America. By 
the way, Mr. Speaker, both of these refineries are in the energy belt 
of the Texas gulf coast.
  To get back on the path of energy self-reliance, the United States 
needs more American refineries and more offshore drilling. The country 
has not built a new refinery in over 25 years because of burdensome 
bureaucratic Federal regulations and environmental energy 
obstructionists. Congress needs to encourage refinery development and 
offshore drilling. That will increase supply so that the gasoline price 
at the pump comes down to an acceptable American consumer level.
  The people of southeast Texas welcome Motiva's new progress, and we 
congratulate them on this endeavor. That's just the way it is.

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