[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 143 (Wednesday, September 10, 2008)]
[House]
[Page H7961]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                 ENERGY

  (Mr. BARRETT of South Carolina asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute.)
  Mr. BARRETT of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, it's been 5 weeks since 
we have been in session here on the House floor. But there have been 
many of us that have been on this floor throughout the month of August. 
We have talked directly with the American people about the immediate 
need for comprehensive energy legislation. And during August, it became 
crystal clear that there's a disconnect between what is happening on 
the streets of America and what is happening here in Washington, DC.
  One day my colleague was talking and in a moment of doubt and 
frustration, he said, ``I don't even know if anybody is listening,'' to 
which somebody stood up on the floor here and said, ``America is 
listening, Congressman. America is listening.'' And he was right.
  The American people are hurting. At a gas station in North Augusta, 
South Carolina, one gentleman, a special needs gentleman, came up to me 
and said, ``Congressman, I can only afford $39 of gas, half a tank, 
because that's all I have and that's got to do me.''
  What are we doing to help this gentleman?
  Mr. Speaker, let's quit the partisanship. This is an American problem 
and we need American solutions. Comprehensive legislation, all of the 
above.

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