[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 77 (Thursday, May 10, 2007)]
[House]
[Page H4763]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           IT IS TIME TO ENACT A COMPREHENSIVE ENERGY POLICY

  (Mr. BUTTERFIELD asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute.)
  Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Mr. Speaker, it seems that every year as we close in 
on Memorial Day, gas prices sky-rocket to new record highs. 
Unfortunately, this year there is no exception.
  For 6 years under Republican leadership, Congress has failed to enact 
a comprehensive energy strategy needed to help stabilize the price of 
gas and make America more energy independent. Under the Republican 
leadership, energy policy was little more than corporate welfare, 
handing over billions of dollars in tax breaks to oil companies and gas 
companies experiencing record profits. As a result of those policies, 
American families are paying a higher price every time they go to the 
pump.
  Under the new leadership, this House has already supported a rollback 
of those multi-billion dollar taxpayer subsidies to big oil companies 
so that we can invest in efficiency and renewable forms of energy.
  Mr. Speaker, it is time to help the working families struggle to pay 
the prices at the pump. We must bring down prices and make America 
energy independent. With a comprehensive energy policy we can and 
should and will accomplish this goal.

                          ____________________