[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 115 (Monday, July 14, 2008)]
[House]
[Page H6452]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   PRACTICAL ENERGY SOLUTIONS NEEDED

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Gingrey) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. GINGREY. Mr. Speaker, for literally months now, House Republicans 
have come to the floor in a concerted effort to convince Democratic 
leadership to bring legislation to the floor that would allow us to 
drill here and drill now so we can all pay less at the pump.
  But even as we offered practical energy solutions and a willingness 
to work with the majority, Speaker Pelosi has continually blocked such 
legislation from coming for a vote here in the House, and we are not 
the only ones who have noticed it.
  Mr. Speaker, here is a headline from today's Roll Call newspaper. 
Here is what it says: ``Pelosi maneuvers to block drilling votes. 
Speaker Nancy Pelosi appears intent on preventing votes on opening more 
areas to offshore drilling, despite the stirrings of a revolt by rank-
and-file Democrats after months of concerted efforts by House 
Republicans.'' This was in Roll Call today, Monday, July 14, 2008.
  As this article notes, we are starting to hear some rumblings from 
Members on the Democratic side of the aisle who are ready to put 
partisan politics aside and work with Republicans on compromise 
legislation that will start to decrease our pain at the pump. 
Increasing numbers of rank-and-file Democrats seem to have grown tired 
of their leadership's failure to allow votes on legislation that will 
break our dependence on foreign oil.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to show a couple of posters here and some quotes. 
The first quote, ``Americans need Congress to look at real solutions in 
addressing our energy needs, especially when we have $4 a gallon 
gasoline. We need answers and not just slogans. We need to do it all. 
We have Senators going to Saudi Arabia begging them to increase their 
production, but we won't increase ours in some of the most, potential, 
productive areas?'' That was a quote from a floor remark made June 26, 
2008, by Mr. Gene Green of Texas.

                              {time}  1945

  Here is another one. Another quote, ``Then we better get started, 
because the longer we delay, the more we're jeopardizing the American 
economy.'' That quote came from Representative Neil Abercrombie, the 
gentleman from Hawaii, on Fox News on July 7 of this year, a member, 
Neil Abercrombie, of the Natural Resources Committee.
  Many Members on both sides of the aisle understand that there is not 
one single solution to our current energy crisis, and that we must work 
in a bipartisan way to develop a comprehensive plan to alleviate the 
pain that American families face every time they fill their gas pumps.
  I want to commend the leadership of Representative John Peterson of 
Pennsylvania, and, as I said, Representative Neil Abercrombie of 
Hawaii. They are now heading up a working group to form legislation 
that incorporates long-term energy solutions while also providing 
short-term relief for Americans who are now, today, paying $4.11 a 
gallon of gas.
  This bipartisan approach is what we need to find a solution. House 
Republicans stand ready to find a middle way that not only guarantees 
an increase in domestic production, but it also addresses concerns 
about excessive speculation.
  While House Republicans are prepared for a comprehensive approach 
that looks not only at supply but also market factors, Speaker Pelosi 
must be willing to, at the very least, allow an up or down vote on 
increasing domestic supply. She must recognize that the American people 
don't want any option left off the table.
  As further indication that we need to increase the domestic supply of 
oil, President Bush today lifted the 18 year-old executive order that 
prohibited responsible energy exploration along our Nation's Outer 
Continental Shelf. Let me show my colleagues that poster. Here is the 
quote, ``In another push to deal with soaring gas prices, President 
Bush on Monday will lift an executive ban on offshore drilling that has 
stood since his father was president. But the move, by itself, will do 
nothing unless Congress acts as well.'' This was from the Associated 
Press today.
  This decision leaves Congress as the last remaining hurdle to 
domestically producing billions of barrels of oil and trillions of 
cubic feet of natural gas for the American people. Allowing our Nation 
to explore the energy resources available off of our coast would be a 
great first step toward declaring America's energy independence.
  We need to have a comprehensive approach, and I hope Members on both 
sides of the aisle recognize that, and we need action now.
  Unfortunately, sound energy policy is being held hostage by Speaker 
Nancy Pelosi because she believes that it is more important to pander 
to out-of-control environmentalists than to enact a ``common-sense 
plan'' to lower gas prices--as she promised to the American people over 
2 years ago.
  Mr. Speaker, as American families and small businesses face record 
prices at the pump, they are counting on their leaders in Congress to 
work together on reforms to help reduce fuel costs. I call on Speaker 
Pelosi and the Democratic Leadership to listen to House Republicans, a 
growing coalition of House Democrats and most importantly the American 
people--allow a vote on legislation that will reduce our dependence on 
foreign oil.

                          ____________________