[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 123 (Wednesday, September 27, 2006)]
[House]
[Page H7505]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     NO CONGRESSIONAL RECESS UNTIL ACTION IS TAKEN ON ENERGY PRICES

  (Mr. CARNAHAN asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. CARNAHAN. Mr. Speaker, as the major oil companies know, it pays 
to have friends in high places. The Bush administration and this 
Republican-controlled Congress have an all-too-cozy relationship with 
Big Oil that has helped those companies rake in the largest profits in 
American history. The American people paid the price.
  Throughout the summer, record high costs at the pump hit families 
hard. Now, as the winter months approach, these same working families 
know they may soon face soaring home heating bills. Yet House 
Republicans refuse to repeal the $8 billion in tax breaks to their 
friends in Big Oil.
  Democrats want to repeal these outrageous subsidies and use those 
funds to provide consumers with real relief and real investment in new 
fuel technologies and biofuels from America's heartland, including my 
home State of Missouri, and not the Middle East.
  House Republicans seem dead set on standing with Big Oil instead of 
American consumers. Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to 
bring up a bill I am proud to cosponsor, H.R. 4479, which repeals the 
oil companies' subsidies and gives those breaks instead to consumers, 
small business and funds the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the settled guidelines previously 
cited, that request cannot be entertained.
  Mr. CARNAHAN. Mr. Speaker, may I make a parliamentary inquiry? Is 
that ruling tantamount to an objection to this?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. It is in the first instance an exercise of 
discretion in recognition. The gentleman was simply not recognized for 
the unanimous consent request under the previously announced guidelines 
for the exercise of discretion in recognition.
  As recorded on page 734 of the House Rules Manual, the Chair is 
constrained not to entertain the gentleman's request unless it has been 
cleared by the bipartisan floor and committee leaderships.

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