[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 100 (Thursday, July 7, 2011)]
[House]
[Page H4682]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                 ENERGY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
North Carolina (Ms. Foxx) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, this past week, we were in our districts to 
visit with our constituents, to learn from them and to celebrate 
America's Independence Day. Much of my time was focused on the issue of 
energy and the need for energy independence because constituents are 
concerned with the high costs of energy and how these costs are 
impacting their businesses and lives.
  Republicans believe in an all-of-the-above approach for energy 
independence. Republicans believe that energy diversity leads to energy 
security, and there were plenty of examples in the district for me to 
visit.
  In Boone, students from Appalachian State University's Solar 
Homestead Team showed me the home they are preparing for the 2011 Solar 
Decathlon competition to be held on The Mall here in Washington, D.C., 
in September. The Solar Homestead team is advancing renewable energy 
systems through research on phase change, material energy storage, the 
integration of solar photovoltaic panels, and concentrating solar 
thermal systems for domestic hot water. While much money has been 
invested in this project by both the public and the private sectors, 
the hope is that the research will result in the ability to utilize 
alternative, renewable energy sources that will be able to provide low-
cost energy homes for those in need.
  Clyde and Pat Colwell have developed Carolina Heritage Vineyard in 
Elkin, North Carolina, an energy-efficient small business which is 
benefiting from a taxpayer-funded solar system. The Colwells are very 
educated people who are retired from their first careers. Clyde served 
in the U.S. Marine Corps, earned his Ph.D., and served as a teacher, 
principal and superintendent. Pat earned her MBA and retired from IBM. 
However, while their graduate degrees were helpful in general, both of 
them returned to Surry Community College to earn associate degrees in 
viticulture so they could pursue developing their organic wine 
business. They work full time in the vineyards and on the winemaking 
process, and bring many skills to the area and to others in the 
business.
  The Gilbert Hemric family farm in Hamptonville, North Carolina, where 
Gilbert Hemric and his family work hard on their poultry, cattle and 
tobacco farm, is a microcosm of the problems that this administration 
has created. Mr. Hemric made it very clear to me that the high cost of 
energy and regulatory burdens are having a negative impact on his 
business. The Hemrics are paying more and more for feed and for fuel to 
run their equipment. Because fuel costs have almost doubled since 
President Obama came to office, the Hemrics have not replaced two of 
the 10 workers they had last year. They can't afford to replace them.
  At Holland Transfer in Statesville, CEO Jeff Harvey told me that the 
skyrocketing price of fuel and regulatory burdens are counterproductive 
to job creation and the growth of his business. The Harvey Family 
practices Christian values throughout its business, and has established 
nonprofits that feed the needy. When possible, they hire homeless 
people, which enables the homeless to leave shelters, but all this 
great work for the community depends on his business performing at a 
level that will allow him to continue contributing to the community.
  As I visited with constituents during the Independence Day work 
period, one thing was clear: that we need another independence 
movement--independence from Middle Eastern oil.
  Unfortunately, rather than pursuing energy independence, the Obama 
administration keeps fostering an energy dependence policy at the cost 
of American jobs, higher prices at the pump and at the cost of 
endangering our national security by making us more dependent on 
unstable Middle Eastern governments.
  House Republicans have responded by introducing and passing four 
bills to increase our domestic energy production and to create American 
jobs, but the Senate has taken no action. Liberal Democrats are 
obstructing the opportunity for jobs for Americans, lower energy costs 
and a new era of independence.
  It is time we declare independence from Middle Eastern oil and start 
using our own resources for the benefit of all Americans.

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