[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 147 (Tuesday, September 16, 2008)]
[House]
[Page H8139]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1015
        STOP PLAYING POLITICS WITH AMERICA'S ENERGY INDEPENDENCE

  (Mr. PENCE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PENCE. Mr. Speaker, the American people are hurting. They are 
struggling under the weight of record gasoline prices, and in that 
cause Republicans have been fighting for a comprehensive energy bill 
that includes more drilling. Three-quarters of Americans agree with us.
  Just last week, the drill-nothing Democrat Congress announced they 
are going to bring an energy bill to the floor that includes more 
drilling. And now they say Republicans have to take ``yes'' for an 
answer.
  Well, I would suggest to my countrymen, Mr. Speaker, that they look 
at the fine print. The drill-nothing Congress has brought a bill that 
actually includes basically drill-nothing provisions. They say ``yes'' 
to drilling, but not in Alaska, not in the eastern gulf, and not within 
50 miles.
  They say ``yes'' to drilling, but States can decide, even though they 
get absolutely no revenues for choosing to drill. I guess States are 
going to just allow drilling out of the goodness of their hearts.
  They say ``yes'' to drilling, but litigation rules will allow 
environmental lawyers to tie up all leases from the very day they are 
filed.
  I say to my House Democrat colleagues from my heart, on behalf of our 
constituents who are struggling under record gasoline prices, end this 
charade. Stop playing politics with America's energy independence. 
Bring us a full and fair debate to this floor and you will see a 
bipartisan result.

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