[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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