[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 116 (Tuesday, July 15, 2008)]
[House]
[Page H6477]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    OFFSHORE DRILLING AND GAS PRICES

  (Mrs. MALONEY of New York asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute.)
  Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, yesterday the President 
announced that he is lifting the executive order that prevents Big Oil 
from drilling off of the treasured coastline of America.
  What will this do to lower gas prices any time soon? Nothing. And 
nothing is exactly what the administration has been doing for the past 
7 years as gas prices have nearly tripled.
  By contrast, Democrats in Congress have been working on bringing down 
prices at the pump. We passed the first fuel efficiency standards in 32 
years, and are supporting the movement to alternative fuels.
  We want to help families now by releasing oil from the Strategic 
Petroleum Reserve and forcing big oil companies to start drilling on 
the 311 acres that are open for development now, or the 68 million 
acres that are under lease now for development.
  Mr. Speaker, if domestic drilling can bring relief to American 
families, what are the big oil companies waiting for? Drill on those 
311 acres and those 68 million acres under lease.

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