[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 95 (Thursday, June 21, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1108-E1109]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      DOMESTIC ENERGY AND JOBS ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                            HON. JOHN LEWIS

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 20, 2012

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the state of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 4480) to 
     provide for the development of a plan to increase oil and gas 
     exploration, development, and production under oil and gas 
     leases of Federal lands under the jurisdiction of the 
     Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Energy, the 
     Secretary of the Interior, and the Secretary of Defense in 
     response to a drawdown of petroleum reserves from the 
     Strategic Petroleum Reserve:

  Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Chair, the bill that the House is 
considering contains a very troubling provision. It would place a 
$5,000 fee on anyone who wants to protest a lease of federal lands.
  The language in this legislation is very clear: it refers to this as 
a ``protest fee'' and it costs $5,000. Clearly, a $5,000 fee places a 
higher burden on citizens who might seek to delay or prevent oil and 
gas development.
  Mr. Chair, my colleagues are well aware that the first amendment says 
that Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom to petition the 
government for a redress of grievances.
  This fee violates that most basic freedom and it violates the spirit 
of the first amendment. My amendment, Number 13, offered by Mr. 
Connolly of Virginia as my designee, would fix that.
  I am not a lawyer Mr. Chair, but I have experience in non-violent 
protest. I have experience in petitioning the government over a 
grievance. And I believe this provision is unconstitutional.
  I have seen firsthand the power of the first amendment--The power of 
protest. My experience has taught me that this is our sacred right as 
Americans. It is a protection from oppression. It is a protection from 
tyranny and injustice. On more than one occasion, my

[[Page E1109]]

friends and I put our lives in its care for what we believe. We must 
protect that right.
  In the past three years there have been members of this body who have 
protested the policies of the administration. While I disagree with 
them on many issues, I deeply respect their right to peacefully and 
non-violently protest. Some of them may be new to protest but I know 
that every member of the Tea-Party Caucus will support my amendment.
  Mr. Chair, the ability to protest was the foundation of our country. 
Protest has shaped and reshaped our society. Again and again. If the 
courts review this policy, we should make clear that this provision 
should not stand. I urge my colleagues to vote yes on this amendment.

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