[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 47 (Wednesday, March 16, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H3763-H3768]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
BRING BACK AMERICAN ENERGY INDEPENDENCE
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Ms. Jacobs of California). Under the
Speaker's announced policy of January 4, 2021, the gentleman from
Louisiana (Mr. Johnson) is recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of
the minority leader.
General Leave
Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that
all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend
their remarks and include extraneous material on the subject of my
Special Order.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Louisiana?
There was no objection.
Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, we have another crisis, yet
another crisis, created by the policy choices of this White House.
The national average price for a gallon of gas reached $4.32 on
Sunday; and, yes, that is the highest price in U.S. history.
Last Thursday, we also learned that U.S. inflation soared 7.9 percent
over the past 12 months. That is the largest spike in consumer prices
in 40 years.
Now, the Washington Democrats' blame game is in full swing. Just to
get this straight, at first, according to Democrats, they said
inflation ``wasn't happening.'' Then inflation was ``merely
transitory,'' they tried to convince us. Then inflation somehow only
hurt
[[Page H3764]]
rich folks; that was the only line of reasoning.
But Washington Democrats' latest fiction might be their greatest yet:
That the past year of steady, unrelenting price increases for gas and
consumer goods is actually Vladimir Putin's fault.
Yes, that is right, Madam Speaker, Vladimir Putin. He didn't kill the
Keystone pipeline. Joe Biden did. Vladimir Putin didn't ban drilling
for oil on Federal lands. Joe Biden did that. Vladimir Putin didn't
pass trillions upon trillions in unnecessary government spending in a
single year. Joe Biden and the Washington Democrats did that.
Madam Speaker, what is so hard about just being honest with the
American people? President Biden should accept responsibility for the
past year of rising prices and pledge to correct course. He had better,
or we are in for more and more pain.
The President should do everything in his power to make it easier,
not harder, for America to produce more oil and gas. This would lower
prices for the American people. It would make our country and Europe
less dependent on foreign energy. But instead, President Biden says he
actually ``can't do much right now'' about the skyrocketing gas prices.
The Democratic Caucus leader said the issue of gas prices ``hasn't
come up'' during his party's caucus meetings. Really? You haven't made
time to discuss any solutions to the number one issue facing Americans
right now?
Now that the Biden administration and Congressional Democrats know
they are in a tight spot, here is the thing: They are trying to
convince the American people that an American President can't control
gas prices in the United States but Russians can. Good luck with that.
I thank my colleagues for being here tonight for my Special Order
hour this evening.
Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr.
Meuser).
{time} 1730
Mr. MEUSER. Madam Speaker, we have a very, very serious energy crisis
here on our home shores. As fuel continues to rise, the Biden
administration continues to point fingers at anybody but themselves--
they have done it many times before--for this self-inflicted crisis.
There are statements such as this is Putin's fault. The fact is,
though, that the numbers truly tell a different story, and they do, in
fact, tell the truth.
This situation cannot be denied by many of our colleagues here in the
House, that we are issuing virtual propaganda about the realities of a
national crisis.
On January 20 of last year, a gallon of gas cost $2.39. After a year
with the Biden administration, and with much of the House leadership
supporting, we shut down the Keystone pipeline; paused leases for
energy development; failed to approve even one permit for drilling, not
one; imposed new regulations on the energy industry; threatened higher
taxes on energy companies; and, yes, actually warned banks and
financial institutions not to make investments in our domestic energy
industries.
Yet, what is coming from the White House, and many in this House, is
to blame Putin for the gas prices. It is just horrible propaganda.
Last week, the President actually told the American people that he
``can't do much right now'' to lower gas prices. Yes, you can. Yes, it
can be done.
Meanwhile, they are looking at Iran, Venezuela, Saudi Arabia, and, up
until recently, Russia. So why don't we look at central Pennsylvania,
west Texas, New Mexico, Louisiana?
Create American energy and American jobs. We need to reverse the
policies that have depressed production, throttled back investment, and
led to higher gas prices at the pump and for heating people's homes
nationwide.
Madam Speaker, energy security is national security. I think we have
all heard that. It has never been more important to be reminded of it
than today. We must reverse these damaging policies now and safeguard
our Nation's security for today and tomorrow.
Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, from energy States like
ours--Pennsylvania, Louisiana, and the others--we have been saying this
for a long, long time: Energy security is national security. Now,
everybody recognizes it.
Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Tiffany),
another gentleman who knows quite a bit about this issue.
Mr. TIFFANY. Madam Speaker, 2 weeks ago, we were here and heard about
how President Biden was going to use every tool at his disposal, every
tool, to combat skyrocketing energy costs.
Now, this is the same administration that told us the border was
secure. That was about a year ago, a little less than a year ago. The
border was secure. And we just saw in the last month, once again,
record numbers of people coming in illegally to our country across the
southern border.
Of course, as the gentleman from Louisiana just said, inflation was
``transitory,'' and we are starting to hear that his chief economic
adviser is saying maybe it is not so transitory. We are seeing record
numbers now, this month, in regard to inflation.
Well, it all started January 20, 2021, with the shutdown of the
Keystone pipeline and all the other actions that were taken to limit
production here in America.
We saw what is turning out to be a foreign policy disaster, the okay
of the Nord Stream pipeline that is delivering natural gas to Western
Europe, something the previous administration would never do.
This is all part of the green fantasy here in America that has become
America's nightmare.
Back home in my district, it is $2.85 a gallon to heat your home with
propane right now. Propane is used by about a third of the homeowners
in the district that I live in. They paid $1.50 in August 2021. They
paid $0.80 a gallon in August 2020. That is what they are facing.
President Biden came to my district right after the State of the
Union speech, came to Superior, Wisconsin. Once again, we were anxious
to hear how he is going to use every tool, every tool possible, to
provide energy for America.
But we didn't hear a thing about rerouting the pipeline through
northern Wisconsin that is held up because a permit is not issued by
the Governor of Wisconsin and his Department of Natural Resources.
We didn't hear a single thing about Line 5 that goes through the
Straits of Mackinac--the Governor of Michigan shut down that permit
last year--a major throughput to Canada and the entire Midwest.
We didn't hear a word about rebuilding the refinery in Superior,
which we hope is complete soon. He was there on an infrastructure tour.
That refinery produces all kinds of asphalt. Don't you think that would
be a really good time--infrastructure, asphalt--to talk about
rebuilding that refinery?
Finally, he didn't say a thing about a natural gas plant that is
proposed for Superior, Wisconsin, nearly a billion-dollar investment to
produce clean electricity with natural gas.
We didn't hear a word about producing more fertilizer for those
farmers to grow our crops. We didn't hear a word about that.
This President does not understand security. Job security, thousands
of jobs--two of the major pipeline manufacturers in the United States
are right in Wisconsin. We didn't hear a thing about economic security,
the inflation that is, in part, a result of these increased energy
costs. We didn't hear a thing about national security, and that is what
is at stake.
The Biden administration has let us down on all three fronts, job
security, economic security, and national security.
Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I thank my friend for his
remarks.
Madam Speaker, when we think about energy States, of course, we
probably think about Texas first. I am delighted to yield to the
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Babin), who represents that State so well.
Mr. BABIN. Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague and friend across the
Sabine River from me, Mr. Johnson, for having this Special Order.
President Biden and the Democrats hate the facts because the facts
are not
[[Page H3765]]
on their side. If we are being honest, the facts haven't been on their
side for a very long time. Nevertheless, they continue perpetuating the
lie that domestic energy is somehow bad, and foreign energy is somehow
good.
So, join me. Let's take a look at the facts here. The refineries,
petrochemical plants, and American businesses in and around my
district, the 36th Congressional District of the State of Texas, are
unmatched worldwide.
For years, they have showcased what our country does best, and that
is producing superior, high-quality petroleum products by leading in
technological innovation.
The best and brightest Americans are constantly discovering new ways
to enhance safety, lower emissions, and provide the world with
affordable and reliable energy.
But the left, the leftist Democrats, they don't seem to care. They
would rather lambaste the American public for not buying a $60,000-plus
electric vehicle. In fact, they would rather help tyrants and communist
countries become energy powerhouses than to spend even one cent
supporting U.S. oil and gas jobs, American ingenuity, or our state-of-
the-art facilities.
And in the name of what, eliminating greenhouse gases? Give me a
break.
Here is a reality check. When we increase our dependency on foreign
nations for our energy needs, we increase our carbon footprint. Simple.
America makes the cleanest energy on the planet--fact. Foreign oil
and gas are not produced using the stringent environmental regulations
that we have here in America, not to mention foreign oil must travel
farther on less safe and less environmentally friendly modes of
transportation to get that product here.
If Biden and my Democrat colleagues want to talk about cleaner
energy, they must first accept the fact that we, America, lead in
reducing harmful pollution worldwide.
Americans are sick of suffering from Biden's anti-oil and gas agenda
that supports dirtier energy, funds corrupt governments, kills their
jobs, weakens our national security, and raises the cost of everything.
I spent $125 filling up my Ford F-150 pickup truck this past Monday,
just as an example.
But here is the bottom line: If Biden and the left honestly believe
that foreign energy is the best option, then they really do not care
about the environment or the security of our own Nation, the United
States of America.
Acknowledge the facts. Put America first. Unleash our energy sector.
Help the environment. End our dangerous dependence on foreign
adversaries.
Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I thank Dr. Babin. That is
Texas strong, as we expected.
Madam Speaker, one of the strongest Republican delegations in our
Congress comes from another State, Tennessee. I am delighted to yield
to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Rose), one of the hardest working
men in Congress.
Mr. ROSE. Madam Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding time
tonight.
Madam Speaker, despite what President Biden and congressional
Democrats have to say, higher prices at the fuel pump are not because
of a Putin price increase.
The price of a gallon of gas increased from $2.31 a gallon since
President Biden's inauguration to $3.48 the week before Putin's
invasion of Ukraine. That is a 50 percent increase before the invasion
of Ukraine even began.
But make no mistake, the Biden administration is doing everything
they can to blame the increase on Russia's invasion of Ukraine. They
have turned to their allies in the mainstream media to carry their
talking points.
But I urge all Americans not to let the headlines or TikTok
influencers fool you. This is a crisis caused by President Biden and
congressional Democrats' anti-energy policies, not Putin's invasion of
Ukraine.
Unfortunately, we all knew this was coming when President Biden said
on the campaign trail that he would ``transition away from the oil
industry.''
During his first days in office, President Biden declared war against
American energy. He moved his plan into action by canceling the
Keystone pipeline and other projects, imposing new regulations on the
oil and gas industry, and stalling new leases on oil and gas projects
on Federal lands.
If the President has a legitimate plan to lower energy prices and
fight inflation, we, the American people, would love to see it.
But until we do, I can only guess the President's plan is what he has
done since taking office: spend trillions of dollars and hope Americans
purchase expensive electric vehicles. That is not a plan. It is a pipe
dream.
The truth is that this is not the America President Biden inherited.
Under President Trump, America was energy independent, even a net oil
exporter. Inflation was well under control. Gas was less than $2.50 a
gallon, and our enemies were our enemies, not potential trade partners.
But the price of a gallon of gas, along with inflation, has increased
every single month since President Biden was inaugurated. The resulting
harm to our country has been mostly self-inflicted and largely driven
by Democrats' massive deficit spending and by the fact that the
President has declared war on the U.S. oil and gas industry from his
first day in office.
Every step he has taken to hinder the oil and gas industry diminishes
capitalism, the very engine of our economy and our relatively high
standard of living.
Whether it is in our schools or with our healthcare decisions,
President Biden's administration wants you to do what they say instead
of trusting what has made us the most prosperous country in the history
of the world.
Republicans in Congress stand ready to implement policies to make
America energy independent again. It is time for the President to
reverse the war against American energy and recognize that the solution
to his energy crisis exists right under our feet. Still, the President
refuses to pull his head out of the sand to tap into it.
He will stop at nothing to satisfy his leftwing base, even if it is
at the expense of everyday, hardworking Americans, who I am proud to
represent in middle Tennessee.
Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, a lot of comments there from
the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Rose), and we will stay on that theme
for the great State of Tennessee.
Madam Speaker, I am happy to yield Mr. Burchett, another gentleman
from that great State, for more common sense.
Mr. BURCHETT. Madam Speaker, I greatly appreciate Chairman Johnson
for heading this up day after day.
I just wonder, have the Democrats been to the gas pumps lately? I
used to love to go to the gas pumps and talk to folks to see what was
going on. Now, honestly, I am afraid to even make eye contact with
somebody because they are going to light you up, Madam Speaker.
I know we see a lot of these little, cute stickers. That is not my
thing. I don't want to cause any vandalism with our President pointing
at the pump saying, ``I did that,'' but the truth is, he did do this.
If they would listen to what is going on, they would know that
America is ticked, and they should be. The national gas average today
is $4.30 a gallon. The average a year ago was $2.87.
In 2020, gasoline or oil was around $17 a barrel, and today, I
believe it has dropped to $95. I heard someone from the White House
earlier bragging about how oil has dropped. I mean, that is the
Washington way, to not talk about how it was at $17 a couple of years
ago, but talk about how it has dropped from over $110 down to $95.
Madam Speaker, we need to turn the spigots back on. We need to get
back into the oil business. The oil and gas companies, we have been
told that they have the permits, and then they boast about that, that
they are not drilling because of it.
{time} 1745
The truth is, Madam Speaker, not enough pipelines have been permitted
to move the product. If they get it, there is nowhere for it to go.
There is no storage capacity. There is no way to move the product. The
pipelines have to be completed, and that is part of the master plan
here.
As has been stated by Members on this floor and other times, I have
heard, $7 a gallon and electric vehicles are in. That is no way to
drive innovation, Madam Speaker. Innovation is
[[Page H3766]]
driven through creativity, through capitalism, not by crooked
politicians and evil folks trying to change the American agenda.
Electric cars are not affordable yet. Over $50,000 a car. That is
ridiculous. You have got over eight adapters on the plugs. It takes
several hours to charge. I don't know if you have ever driven across
country or not with a family but stopping 8 hours at a truck stop is
not my idea of a vacation.
Renewables aren't reliable sources for our power grids. Democrats
seem to double down, though, on these crazy woke environmental agenda
issues. It just creates higher energy bills for Americans, Madam
Speaker, and increases costs for business. That is why everything is
up.
If you look at the price of fuel, I filled up my daughter's Dodge
diesel the other day, and it cost me over $100. Why are we doing this
to ourselves? We can turn the spigots back on. We can put Americans
back to work. We can increase our economy. We can show the world that
we are leaders.
As the Ukrainian President stated so eloquently this morning, our
President needs to lead the world. It is a shame when a country that
small has to call on a power as great as America and tell its leaders
to lead once again. Until things change, though, Madam Speaker, Biden's
economy is a bust.
I appreciate Chairman Johnson and his truculent behavior. He has
raised this from more than lackluster, and I want to praise him for
that.
Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I appreciate my friend. He
has been a faithful participant in the Special Order hours, getting the
message to the American people, and it is so important right now.
Madam Speaker, I yield next to the gentleman from California (Mr.
LaMalfa), another gentleman who has been very faithful to deliver this
message to the American people week in and week out.
Mr. LaMALFA. Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague from Louisiana (Mr.
Johnson) for faithfully helping us get the message out, facilitating
that because what is really important is that we are talking to the
American public about this situation that we don't have to be in.
Indeed, we have seen with the fairly new Biden administration that
inflation has risen tremendously. Now, I don't get pleasure out of
bagging on the President or anybody else in this, but we just have to
go to the core of the issue. The policies that have been put into place
have harmed the U.S. economy, harmed regular families.
The cost of fuel has been an especially noticeable part of this. In
my home State of California, we always enjoy--enjoy--extra costs
because of the way things are done there. If it is $4 for a gallon of
gas in the rest of the country, it is $5.50 in my home State because of
the dumb things we do out there.
So this recent surge, indeed, is affecting everybody, but it is an
even greater burden on rural residents that have to drive longer
distances. Maybe their jobs in agriculture or timber or mining are more
based on the usage of fuel and other inputs that are fuel related. So
that means that there are fewer exports of things that are produced in
rural America, fewer services, there is going to be less employment as
a result of this, too, because of the high cost of everything.
We are talking to some truckers. We are seeing there is a point where
they can't deliver anymore because they can't afford the fuel and that
will be soon. Imagine that, when you go to the retail level, and you
can't get the normal things off the shelf you are used to. We are
already seeing that. There are fewer food choices, fewer choices. You
are waiting longer for parts to come to repair vehicles or do anything
else.
When rural residents, especially, have to drive longer to do
anything, whether it is to take kids to school, get to health services,
pick up goods they need to do their job, it is just that much greater
of a burden at these prices.
Take law enforcement, for example. Now, cops, especially rural ones,
they have got a lot of driving to do to cover those rural areas, and
their costs are going through the roof. That means counties, small
cities are bearing a greater burden just to try and keep patrols out
there. So that is indeed a detrimental effect on basic public safety.
Farmers, too. We are getting ready to plant our crop on our farm
here. I don't even want to know what the fuel price is to top off my
tanks, but I have to because it is so high. That is going to be passed
on to the shelves for people to buy food all across the country or the
farmer is going to go out of business if he can't get the price he
needs to at the store.
Rural jobs are extremely important for our economy. They are
producing things that people eat, the fiber they use to make clothes
that people wear, the wood and paper products we use for our homes and
our business.
It is really, really high time we take action and produce energy in
this country because we can, we should, and we can affect the world
market and make it where Russia is not making a killing off their
energy because it is a supply-and-demand issue. If we fill the
marketplace with low-cost energy, it will bring all this back in line.
We will be in a better position as a Nation to help our colleagues, our
neighbors in the western part of Europe, and cripple Putin's ability to
make a killing off what he is doing.
Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I thank my friend for his
comments. There are so many consequences to these bad policy choices,
and I appreciate his illuminating many of those tonight.
Madam Speaker, I yield next to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr.
Clyde), another faithful messenger for the truth in America.
Mr. CLYDE. Madam Speaker, while the devastating war in Ukraine is
heartbreaking, we cannot turn a blind eye to the crises that President
Biden has created here at home, especially when the American people are
paying for his failed policies.
Last week, inflation hit another new, 40-year high of 7.9 percent in
February, continuing to impose a hidden tax on every solitary American.
Prices at the pump, utility bills, and costs in the grocery store
checkout line just keep getting worse.
Yet, instead of reversing his disastrous policies and reducing
government spending in order to alleviate the pain inflicted on
Americans' wallets, President Biden pivots to offer deceptive excuses.
First, we were told inflation was just transitory, that is it, but
when price hikes continued, the new spin comically became that
inflation is a good thing.
A good thing, really? Struggling Americans would beg to differ, Mr.
President.
When that messaging failed, the talking points quickly evolved to
blame higher prices on corporate greed. It appears the Biden
administration enjoys pointing fingers at others instead of admitting
the truth.
Now, in light of Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine, the Biden
administration's convenient scapegoat is Russian President Vladimir
Putin, disingenuously labeling the ongoing inflation as Putin's price
hike.
Make no mistake, inflation was skyrocketing long before Putin's
troops set one foot into Ukraine. These are most certainly President
Biden's price hikes. He is responsible, and no amount of dishonesty can
hide the truth from the American people.
In fact, Americans simply can't afford to buy any more of Biden's
deceptive excuses. Instead of playing the blame game while workers,
families, and small businesses suffer, the Biden administration and
congressional Democrats must reverse course on their wasteful spending
and failed economic policies. We must return to the America-first
principles that truly helped the American people thrive.
Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I thank my friend. He has a
way of putting it so clearly, and I am grateful for his voice. It is so
consistent.
Madam Speaker, I yield next to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. C.
Scott Franklin), who came to Congress after 26 years of distinguished
service as a naval aviator and knows of what he speaks.
Mr. C. SCOTT FRANKLIN of Florida. Madam Speaker, I always appreciate
my colleague from Louisiana's leadership on these important issues and
I appreciate the time he is yielding me.
Madam Speaker, as my colleagues have shared, the Biden administration
[[Page H3767]]
has been defined by a series of self-inflicted crises. These include
failed leadership on the world stage, runaway inflation, and a
deliberate failure to secure our borders. In fact, you could say they
are having a record year, record high inflation, record violent crime,
record gas prices, record numbers of illegal immigrants, seizures of
illegal drugs all at our southern border. The common denominator in
each of these disasters is the President himself.
The President listened to the State Department over the
recommendation of his generals, which led to last year's disastrous
withdrawal from Afghanistan.
He shut down American energy production, which led to skyrocketing
gas prices long before Russia invaded Ukraine.
He catered to the radicals, flooding our economy with trillions in
free money, and that has created the rampant inflation that we are
experiencing today.
On the border, his reversal of President Trump's policies has led to
nearly two million migrants pouring across our southern border since he
took office. That is more than the population of 15 of our States.
Think about that, the equivalent of creating a State or two every
single year with the number of people crossing the border.
These disasters were completely self-inflicted, and American families
are paying the price.
Despite our political differences, I take no joy in watching this
administration fail. When our President fails, America fails.
Madam Speaker, the American people need and deserve a true leader. If
the President is incapable of leading, he has a duty to surround
himself with smart people willing to give him good counsel in the best
interests of our Nation. Listen to the smart ones and not those with a
track record of failure, and then act on it.
The President should focus on American energy independence, which
will bring down gas prices here at home and help our allies abroad. He
should not be talking to a Venezuelan dictator when we have reliable,
affordable energy right here at home. He also needs to stop the out-of-
control spending and reinstate tough border policies to protect our
communities.
For the sake of our country, this administration must stop
administrating and implementing the worst ideas of the D.C. political
class and lead decisively.
Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as
I may consume.
Madam Speaker, I thank my friend from Florida for bringing that
wisdom to the floor tonight. There has been a theme here this evening
with all of my colleagues who have participated in this Special Order
hour. We have an energy crisis, the latest crisis that has beset the
American people because of terrible policy choices from this White
House and the Democrats in Congress. It is just plain and simple, those
are the objective facts.
It seems like almost a decade ago now, but just a little over a year
ago, if you rewind to the Trump years, you can recall, and everyone
will know again more objective truth, objective facts, how well we were
doing in all of these areas.
President Biden came in and did exactly the opposite. I mean, when
President Trump took office, he came in--I remember very vividly the
first time he came and spoke with the House Republicans in our
conference, and he told us, among the first commitments he made to us--
I mean, this is January of 2017. He was just taking office. We had just
begun that Congress, and he came and spoke to us and said, ``I don't
want to talk about energy independence anymore. I want to talk about
energy dominance.'' Dominance, he said.
Of course, from an energy State like mine in Louisiana, the Louisiana
delegation was delighted to hear that because we know what it means not
only for our State's economy but for the stability, the security of our
entire country.
I will tell you what, more objective fact, President Trump delivered
on that promise. In a very short period of time, we became not only
energy independent again, but energy dominant, just as he said. We
became a net exporter. All boats were rising. The economy was doing
well. In fact, we had the best economic numbers in the history of the
world, not just the history of the United States. Prior to COVID, we
had the best economy because of the policy choices that were made. We
advanced those policies through the Congress; President Trump led on
them, and his administration did a fantastic job. Because of that, our
energy stability, our energy security, all of that was well in place.
And then President Biden comes in, and he does instinctively, I
guess, exactly the opposite. Again, in very short order, he reversed
all of those great trends. As has been articulated so many times
tonight, among the first executive orders he issued--I mean immediately
upon taking office in January 2020--was an executive order that killed
the Keystone pipeline. There were more than 42,000 jobs related to that
project just killed overnight; as well as all the energy independence
and energy dominance that that would have meant for us.
And then he issues the moratorium on Federal production on Federal
lands. Well, that killed a State like Louisiana. Not just on the land,
but right offshore as well. Of course, that is a big part of our
economy and in the other energy States. It was just devastating.
At the same time, while he is killing the Keystone pipeline, he is
ending Federal production on Federal lands, he green lights the Nord
Stream 2 pipeline. That was Putin's project. So he empowers Russia, he
fuels the war machine for Putin because, of course, he can supply oil
all over Western Europe, and that filled his coffers.
Listen, it was mentioned tonight these stickers that are on the gas
pumps all over the country, these ``I did that'' stickers that have
President Biden's picture. It is funny. We don't support vandalism,
right? But, I mean, I see them all over Louisiana, and it is
devastating.
{time} 1800
President Biden is pointing to the sticker shock, the cost that it is
taking everyone to fill their tanks, and it is exactly right. That is
very telling. A picture is worth 1,000 words. He is responsible. These
are the results of policy choices.
And as Mr. Franklin of Florida said a few moments ago, these problems
are completely self-inflicted. And because of that, let's always
remember, they can be easily reversed. The President could just do the
opposite of what he has done since he took office; reverse course and
fix this dilemma for the American people.
But you know what? He won't do that. I don't know if it is because he
is beholden to the radical left environmentalist agenda, the climate
agenda, or if he has some sort of ulterior motive. I am not sure.
But I will tell you what: My constituents are asking that question
openly right now, and millions upon millions of the American people who
are suffering because of these policies are beginning to ask that as
well.
Madam Speaker, I am delighted to yield to the gentlewoman from
California (Mrs. Steel), who has a few more things to say about this
issue.
Mrs. STEEL. Madam Speaker, I am sorry I am just a little late
because, actually, the Education and Labor Committee, we are doing
markups right now.
I rise to address the ongoing energy crisis and the impact it is
having on families in Orange County. The picture you see here is a
snapshot of what gas prices looked like for my constituents in the past
week. But I heard--actually, this is in Orange County.
Last week, same time--this isn't my district, but in Sacramento that
we have actually hit over $9 per gallon. These prices have increased 30
percent in the last year.
Gas prices in Orange County, and across the country, are rising every
single day. One reason for these skyrocketing costs is policies enacted
by this administration that have weakened our energy independence and
made us dependent on foreign oil.
With the President taking the necessary step of banning Russian oil,
it is even more important that we return to our former energy
independence. We cannot turn from one foreign dictator to another to
meet our energy needs. We have the resources right here to bring down
costs and produce the cleanest energy on Earth.
[[Page H3768]]
I urge all my colleagues to join me in pursuing policies to secure
our energy independence.
Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I am so grateful the
gentlewoman came to participate. We know she is very busy. It has been
a long day in the Education and Labor Committee. We are grateful she is
doing that great work.
Madam Speaker, I know that the time is winding up for our Special
Order hour. There was a lot going on on Capitol Hill today. I am
grateful to my Republican colleagues for coming in and participating
and helping to share this very, very important message with the
American people.
There is a lot of spin going on in the country right now, from TikTok
influencers, to media types who are engaging in the spin for the White
House at their request, and the American people see through it. They
are making and being made to make difficult choices for their families.
Hardworking Americans are suffering right now because of these policy
choices. There is crisis after crisis after crisis everywhere we look
because of, frankly put, poor leadership in the White House.
I believe that we will have a change in all of this come November in
the next election cycle, and with the presidential election that will
follow 2 years later. And it can't happen soon enough because the White
House has shown no intention, no indication that they will reverse
policies, as they should, as we mentioned a moment ago could be easily
done to alleviate the pain for all these Americans. But for whatever
reason, they will not do it.
Madam Speaker, I will wind down this evening. I want to thank my
colleagues for being here, participating in this really important
Special Order hour, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Members are reminded to refrain from
engaging in personalities toward the President.
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