[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 85 (Thursday, May 22, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Page S4846]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE REGARDING THE USE OF GASOLINE AND 
            OTHER FUELS BY FEDERAL DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that we now proceed 
to S. Res. 577.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 577) to express the sense of the 
     Senate regarding the use of gasoline and other fuels by 
     Federal departments and agencies.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I rise today to discuss an issue that hits 
deep at the heart--and pocketbooks--of Americans nationwide: rising 
gasoline prices.
  Each and every day, Americans contend with a rapid and inexplicable 
increase in gasoline prices. Over the last month, the average price of 
gasoline has increased a penny a day.
  A barrel of oil is at $133.17.
  The impacts of these increases are staggering.
  I have heard stories of how individual Americans are coping with the 
problem of increased gas prices as they conduct their daily lives with 
their families and in their work environments.
  They are finding ways to reduce their consumption of gasoline by 
driving less, altering daily routines, and even changing family 
vacation plans.
  To me, this example of changing family vacation plans is all the more 
poignant on the eve of what is usually a busy holiday weekend, a 
holiday that usually sees many Americans traveling by car out of town.
  In fact, travel over this holiday weekend is expected to be down for 
the first time since September 11, 2001.
  The bottom line, Mr. President, is Americans are tightening their 
belts in ways that bring hardships, but save dollars that are necessary 
to meet essential family needs. And while small in comparison to the 
overall problem of supply and demand of gasoline, these efforts do add 
up. I never dismiss the American ``can do'' spirit.
  In one word, it is individual conservation. And in cases such as 
this, when individuals are leading the way, the government should join.
  The purpose of the Sense of the Senate Resolution that I am pleased 
to offer is to urge the federal government to likewise take initiatives 
to cut back--even in a small measure--its daily consumption of gasoline 
and other fuels.
  I believe such a move would signal to Americans that their government 
is sharing the daily hardships occasioned by this turbulent, uncertain 
energy crisis.
  Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. Presdient, I am pleased to cosponsor Senator 
Warner's legislation that calls on the President to reduce the gasoline 
consumption of the departments and agencies that he oversees.
  We are seeing American consumers begin to use less gasoline, as 
prices reach new historic highs almost daily. Many Americans simply 
cannot afford to maintain their regular driving habits at the moment. 
This is a situation that we have not experienced in this country in 
over 30 years.
  It is important that the Federal Government show its solidarity with 
the American people in this time of economic hardship. Just as 
individual citizens are finding ways to use less gasoline, the U.S. 
Government should also be finding ways to reduce consumption.
  Because the Executive Branch is by far the largest branch of 
Government, it is important that the President take the lead on this 
issue. As the Federal Government spends less money on fuel, we send 
fewer American taxpayers' hard earned dollars to oil-exporting 
countries. That is a goal I know we can all agree is laudable under any 
circumstance, but even more so now, as fuel costs continue to soar.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution 
be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motions to reconsider 
be laid upon the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 577) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, is as follows:

                              S. Res. 577

       Whereas each day, as Americans contend with rising gasoline 
     prices, personal stories reflect the ways in which--
       (1) family budgets are suffering; and
       (2) the cost of gasoline is impacting the way Americans 
     cope with that serious problem in family and work 
     environments;
       Whereas, as a consequence of economic pressures, Americans 
     are finding ways to reduce consumption of gasoline, such as--
       (1) driving less frequently;
       (2) altering daily routines; and
       (3) even changing family vacation plans;
       Whereas those conservation efforts bring hardships but save 
     funds that can be redirected to meet essential family needs;
       Whereas, just as individuals are reducing energy 
     consumption, the Federal Government, including Congress, 
     should take steps to conserve energy;
       Whereas a Government-wide initiative to conserve energy 
     would send a signal to Americans that the Federal 
     Government--
       (1) recognizes the burdens imposed by unprecedented energy 
     costs; and
       (2) will participate in activities to reduce energy 
     consumption; and
       Whereas an overall reduction of gasoline consumption by the 
     Federal Government by even a few percentage points would send 
     a strong signal that, as a nation, the United States is 
     joining to conserve energy: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that the 
     President should require all Federal departments and agencies 
     to take initiatives to reduce daily consumption of gasoline 
     and other fuels by the departments and agencies.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I wish to express on the record my 
appreciation to Senators Warner and Bingaman for this most important 
resolution that just passed. It expresses the sense of the Senate that 
Americans are contending with rising gasoline prices. Their personal 
stories reflect the ways in which family budgets are suffering.
  The cost of gas is impacting the way Americans cope with problems 
within the family and, therefore, we need to find ways to reduce 
consumption of gasoline. This is directed toward the President. I hope 
he will review this. We have a lot of problems with our economy, many 
of which are a direct result of the cost of a barrel of oil being $130.




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