[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 147 (Tuesday, September 16, 2008)]
[House]
[Page H8134]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  A COMPREHENSIVE NATIONAL ENERGY POLICY WILL LEAD TO A BETTER FUTURE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Wisconsin (Mr. Kagen) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. KAGEN. Thank you, Madam Speaker.
  To solve our crippling crisis of impossible gas prices that are now 
over $4 per gallon in Wisconsin, we need a comprehensive national 
energy policy and strategy. And we need leaders who are on our side--
not Big Oil. But where is the administration's plan? You see it at the 
gas station at the corner every day.
  This crisis was totally predictable and, unfortunately, it is forcing 
every family, every business, and governments at every level to operate 
in a perpetual state of crisis planning. In fact, today's impossible 
gas prices are threatening the survival of major manufacturers and 
small businesses alike, even as ongoing speculation in oil futures 
remains unrestrained. The truth is there is no shortage of fuel. We 
just don't have the money in our pockets to pay for the energy we need.
  There is a better way of doing things in America. Although 
alternative energies will not be available to meet our needs for a 
number of years, we cannot just wait any longer to make plans for our 
energy independence. We need to start producing more of our own energy 
right here and right now. If we want to keep more of our money here at 
home, support the U.S. economy and provide American jobs, then we must 
produce more of our own oil and natural gas as well.
  It's time to say ``no'' to the campaign cash handed out by big oil 
corporations to lobbyists and other special interests here in 
Washington. The first priority is to stop pointing fingers and instead 
start joining hands across the aisle.
  Let's begin to work together and develop a comprehensive energy plan, 
a plan that is created not behind closed doors, but right here on the 
House floor, right here in the open.
  For months, I have been advocating a three-point policy plan. First, 
we do have to drill for new oil and natural gas here in America. Our 
Nation has substantial untapped oil reserves, both under Federal land 
already leased to oil companies and offshore in U.S. territories. With 
appropriate safeguards, like giving States the right to decide if they 
will allow drilling off their shores, these reserves should be drilled 
and the oil extracted from them, which is our own oil, should be sold 
to Americans first.
  Second, we must invest in every form of renewable energy available, 
whether it be solar, wind, geothermal, and even the new nuclear 
technologies. We have to invest our money here at home in renewable 
energy.
  Washington's role should include promoting millions of new jobs with 
the tax incentives for United States companies to invest in this new 
technology.
  Third, we must prevent price manipulation everywhere in the world. 
Stopping the unfair speculation in the oil market can immediately lower 
the price of gas at the pump and provide families and small businesses 
with immediate relief.
  Also, I have called on the President and his allies time and time 
again to sell a portion of our Strategic Petroleum Reserve, which would 
immediately drop the price at the pump.
  These three steps are fundamental to the success of an independent 
energy future for America, and they will create millions of new jobs.
  In the coming days, Congress will take up a comprehensive package 
that will provide relief for consumers, will end our dependence on 
foreign oil, and create millions of new jobs and grow our economy. We 
must promote energy efficiency and invest in renewable sources of 
energy. We must responsibly increase domestic supplies, and without 
taxpayer subsidies to oil companies. It is my hope that this will be a 
bipartisan energy bill that will address all of these concerns.
  I look forward to joining with my Democratic and Republican 
colleagues right here in Congress to try a different approach, 
something that will work. Let's try working together for a change, and 
find a legislative solution. It will require compromise. And in the 
legislative process, that is how business gets done.
  None of this will be easy, and some of it won't be quick. But the 
time is right to craft a national energy policy that allows working 
families in Wisconsin to spend less of their money padding the bank 
accounts of oil executives, and more of their money on their own 
families.
  By working together, we really will build a better future, and an 
energy independent future for all of us.

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