[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 37 (Wednesday, March 7, 2012)]
[House]
[Page H1211]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            PAIN AT THE PUMP

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Michigan (Mr. Walberg) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, we've all had to dig a little deeper in our 
pocketbooks when visiting the gas station lately. Gas has now reached 
$4 a gallon in my district. Combined with the stubbornly high 
unemployment rate in Michigan, I know my constituents are hurting. 
However, the pain at the pump has sparked more conversations than ever 
about domestic energy development. Even the harshest of critics are 
starting to realize that American oil, American gas, and American coal 
are viable solutions to our energy crisis, with countless numbers of 
benefits.
  The time is ripe for our country to embark on a new chapter in energy 
production, American energy, an overhaul of this, if you will. Right 
now we're faced with an abundance of expansion possibilities all there 
for the taking. New developments in science and technology make this 
possible. You've probably heard of at least a few terms like 
``fracking,'' ``3D mapping,'' and ``horizontal drilling.'' These new 
practices allow producers to easily extract natural gas, coal, and oil 
from the ground, all while doing it cheaper, safer, and with less 
disruption to the landscape above. So why has this administration, 
contrary to their rhetoric, chosen to obstruct progress, energy 
independence, and security for our Nation?
  House Republicans remain committed to addressing this abundance of 
energy production and development. That's why we're trying to open up 
new areas for exploration and development. American energy production 
is good for the economy because it creates American jobs; it's good for 
the deficit because of new American royalties; and it's good for our 
manufacturing because it brings American energy costs down.
  If President Obama had chosen to acknowledge this reality 3 years 
ago, we'd already be seeing more American jobs and cheaper energy. 
Instead, he has chosen to do little, sometimes even standing in the way 
of potential growth by letting Big Government be the arbiter of job 
creation. For proof, just look at the Solyndra fiasco, the rejected 
Keystone pipeline project, or mounting job-killing EPA regulations.
  The private sector, not government, is and will always remain the 
real job creator for our country. If producers are given more liberty 
to pursue these techniques, it could put America in a position to 
become one of the largest energy producers in the world. And why not? 
We're America. And that would mean more money, more jobs, greater 
security, and you can bet, lower energy prices.

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