[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 130 (Friday, August 1, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1691]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           MOTION TO ADJOURN

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                            HON. MARK UDALL

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, August 1, 2008

  Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Madam Speaker, I must oppose this motion to 
adjourn, because I think the House should continue trying to pass 
legislation to improve our national energy policies.
  Regrettably, so far our repeated efforts to do that have been 
thwarted by the refusal of our friends on the other side of the aisle 
to support any of the proposals that have been considered.
  They seem ready to put a perceived political advantage over working 
on a bipartisan basis to achieve results.
  Otherwise, I cannot explain their recent votes on energy legislation.
  Looking back, we see that a majority of Congressional Republicans 
have time and again voted against sensible energy legislation.
  They have voted against renewable energy, against the first new 
vehicle efficiency standards in 32 years--saving $1,000 in fuel costs 
per car per year--and against reducing transit fares for commuter rail 
and buses.
  They have voted against expedited drilling in Alaska's National 
Petroleum Reserve and against adding a due-diligence requirement that 
could stimulate expedited exploration and development on other Federal 
lands already leased for that purpose.
  They also voted against releasing 10 percent of the record amounts of 
oil stored in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (to be replaced with 
heavy oil that is better suited for that storage), even though that 
addition to the supplies on the market could ease gas prices.
  And, finally, too many of our Republican colleagues opposed better 
regulation of the commodity markets, to reduce the ability of 
speculators to artificially increase the price of oil, even though the 
bill had been approved in the Agriculture Committee by voice vote and 
was supported by the committee's ranking Republican member.
  So, I certainly understand why many of our colleagues are prepared to 
give up for now and adjourn today in order to begin the normal August 
district work period.
  But I think we owe it to our constituents and to the country to stay 
here at least for now, and to continue working on energy legislation. 
And for that reason, I cannot vote for this motion to adjourn.

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