[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 148 (Wednesday, September 17, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H8281-H8282]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  PASSING A COMPREHENSIVE ENERGY BILL

  (Mr. WELCH of Vermont asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. WELCH of Vermont. Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the House of 
Representatives passed a comprehensive energy bill, regrettably with 
almost undivided Republican opposition. That was disappointing because 
we had a chance to

[[Page H8282]]

work together. In fact, this bill incorporated two things--one, a 
recognition that we need to continue getting the supply of oil to make 
it from here to there, but second, we needed a sustainable revenue 
source to invest in R&D and to invest in implementing alternative 
energy projects. The energy plan of the Republicans, cooked up by Vice 
President Cheney in secret, has been very good for the American oil 
companies, not for the American consumers.
  So far this year, oil companies in a down economy have raked in $44 
billion in profits. That's seven times the amount of profits Big Oil 
brought in when President Bush was first sworn into office.
  What has the energy plan done that the President pursues or that our 
colleagues on the other side pursue? $4 gasoline. It's costing $2,500 
more to heat your homes.
  Mr. President, it's time for us to work together and to get our 
colleagues in the Senate to pass that bill.

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