[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 118 (Thursday, July 17, 2008)]
[House]
[Page H6679]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1015
                     A START TO LOWERING GAS PRICES

  (Mr. BOUSTANY asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. BOUSTANY. Mr. Speaker, this week the President took a small but 
important step to lowering the price at the pump for American families. 
Lifting his ban on Outer Continental Shelf energy exploration was the 
right thing to do, and I applaud him for it. Now, Congress must act.
  We can help increase American supply, lower the price at the pump, 
and create good American jobs. The ball's in our court. Will Congress 
listen to our constituents who are struggling with tough decisions 
about where and when they can drive? Or will congressional leadership 
remain beholden to environmental extremists?
  In Louisiana, energy production is done in a responsible way. After 
two devastating hurricanes, employees of our energy industry worked 
hard to get rigs back up and running knowing they were a very important 
part of our recovery efforts. OCS does not represent a magic bullet. 
However, it's one piece of a responsible comprehensive energy plan to 
lower the price at the pump. Innovative technology, better 
conservation, and new fuels are critical, too. So let's start all of 
them. What is holding us up? By harnessing all of America's vast 
resources and genius, we can give Americans, in the short term and long 
term, a good energy policy.
  Let's do the responsible thing. Let's have a comprehensive energy 
policy.

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