[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 51 (Wednesday, April 2, 2008)]
[House]
[Page H1892]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1015
        CONGRESS IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE HIGH PRICES AT THE PUMP

  (Mr. POE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. POE. Mr. Speaker, as gasoline prices rise higher at the pump, the 
American driver is mad and the Congress blames the oil companies. But 
the real culprit is Congress. Gasoline prices are rising because 
Congress fails to have an energy policy that encourages the development 
of our own resources. Instead of making it easier to obtain crude oil, 
Congress has decided to subsidize the special interest groups to 
produce unproven, unreliable, and expensive alternative fuels, like 
corn-based ethanol, which now may pollute the environment more than 
first realized. Not to mention this idea is bad for land management and 
increases the cost of agricultural products. So now we have high 
gasoline prices and higher prices for corn products worldwide, thanks 
to Congress.
  We are the only industrial power in the world that refuses to take 
advantage of its own energy resources. Congress should lift the absurd 
restrictions on offshore drilling, allow drilling in ANWR and stop the 
expensive, unnecessary regulations. This will increase production, 
supply, and lower costs. Otherwise, we will continue to be held hostage 
by third world dictators, like Chavez, and the cost of crude oil will 
continue to grow.
  And that's just the way it is.

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