[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 118 (Thursday, July 17, 2008)]
[House]
[Page H6712]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           AFFORDABLE ENERGY

  (Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Today, Mr. Speaker, we addressed an 
enormously important issue, and that is how to give relief to the 
American people on these soaring energy prices, small businesses, 
teachers and bus drivers, families who are carpooling, others who are 
trying to get to work. We owe them our collective minds to be able to 
ensure that we have a combined philosophy and program as it addresses 
the question of affordable energy and protecting our national security.
  So I do believe there is a right way of drilling. I do believe we 
should go into the National Petroleum Reserve, and frankly I believe we 
should release gallons of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve so 
the American people can have immediate relief. I also think it is 
extremely important that we conserve, and we look at solar and wind.
  And as it relates to the 23 million leases that are there, only 3 
million are used, let us delegate from those who may own them, let us 
set aside some opportunity for minority and women-owned businesses and 
small businesses to be able to engage in that. Let's have a collective 
effort.

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