[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 64 (Monday, May 22, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E920]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, ENVIRONMENT, AND RELATED AGENCIES 
                        APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2007

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                            HON. BARBARA LEE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 18, 2006

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 5386) making 
     appropriations for the Department of the Interior, 
     environment, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending 
     September 30, 2007, and for other purposes:

  Ms. LEE. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong opposition to Interior 
appropriations bill and in support of the Putnam/Capps amendment that 
will be considered on the floor today.
  For 25 years we have maintained a bipartisan agreement to ban any new 
drilling off our shores because we believed it was more important to 
safeguard the heath and beauty of our coastal environment for future 
generations to enjoy.
  But now the Interior appropriations bill threatens to upset this 
agreement and open our coastal areas to drilling despite overwhelming 
opposition from the American people.
  We should not be trading away our pristine coastal habitats to fatten 
the coffers of the administration's cronies in the oil and gas 
industry.
  The fact of the matter is that new offshore drilling will do nothing 
in the short term to reduce the high gas prices that consumers are 
facing at pump, and will do nothing in the long term to wean us away 
from our addiction to oil.
  The best way to fight high gas prices now is to hold oil companies 
accountable for gouging consumers by instituting a windfall profits 
tax.
  At the same time, we need to make immediate investments to expand 
energy efficiency by raising vehicle fuel economy standards, increasing 
the use of renewable fuels, and by adopting a foreign policy that does 
not hold our constituents hostage to the latest political crisis in the 
Middle East.
  Today our constituents are paying the price for this administration's 
deliberate decision to prioritize the profit margins of the oil and gas 
industry over a comprehensive and sustainable long term energy policy.
  Vote against another giveaway to the energy industry. Support the 
Putnam/Capps amendment and save our coastal environments.

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