[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 57 (Thursday, March 31, 2022)]
[House]
[Page H4017]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          OIL AND GAS REBATES

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
California (Ms. Porter) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, Orange County families are feeling the 
squeeze of higher gas prices. As a single working mom, I share their 
concern when I fill up my minivan. We can provide relief by holding oil 
companies accountable.
  These corporations are making record profits, the highest they have 
been in over 7 years, even as Americans are struggling. And as the 
price of crude oil falls, oil and gas companies have refused to pass on 
savings to customers. Especially as Big Oil engages in profiteering, 
they should not get our taxpayer dollars to line their pockets. Each 
year, the industry receives roughly $650 billion in direct and indirect 
subsidies, financed by taxpayers.
  This week, I am leading an effort to bring legislation to the House 
floor that ends these giveaways to a profitable industry and instead 
puts these dollars toward helping families make ends meet.
  Last week, I introduced the End Oil and Gas Tax Subsidies Act, which 
would eliminate nearly a dozen longstanding egregious tax breaks to the 
oil and gas industry. Healthy capitalism requires a level-playing 
field. For far too long, Big Oil has manipulated the market in its 
favor by lobbying Congress for sweetheart deals. Then, they raise 
prices while simultaneously rewarding their executives with huge 
bonuses.
  Their record profits are proof that they can do without market-
distorting government subsidies.
  Eliminating these tax breaks would provide approximately $60 billion 
in help to families feeling the squeeze. If my colleagues have the 
political courage to stand up to Big Oil, we can quickly relieve the 
pain that Americans feel at the pump. I am ready.

                              {time}  1115


                     Cracking Down on Porch Pirates

  Ms. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, porch pirates steal packages and make our 
communities less safe. Over 1 in 3 Americans, myself included, have 
been a victim of this theft, which costs us billions of dollars each 
year.
  I joined Democrats and Republicans to introduce the Porch Pirates 
Act, which will crack down on this crime. This bipartisan bill expands 
Federal protections for mail and parcels to cover deliveries from 
private carriers.
  Porch pirates are committing crimes of opportunity, and online 
shopping--especially during the pandemic--has dramatically increased 
these opportunities. I recently met with the Irvine police chief who 
described to me how sophisticated these bad actors have become.
  Our Porch Pirates Act modernizes Federal law and helps keep families 
safe.


                      Social Security is a Promise

  Ms. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, Social Security is a promise. It is a 
promise that we make to older adults and disabled Americans, people who 
count on our support.
  One of Social Security's most important features--one not found in 
traditional pensions--is that benefits automatically adjust for 
inflation each year. The current level of adjustment isn't working. As 
corporate profiteers drive inflation to new highs, people on Social 
Security are not even treading water, they are sinking.
  Democrats have a solution. The Social Security 2100 Act fixes the 
inflation adjustment. It would put more money in the pocket of older 
Americans and people with disabilities so they can afford higher 
healthcare costs and other expenses.
  It would also eliminate waiting periods for people with disabilities, 
reducing disabled poverty. More than 200 Members of Congress support 
this bill, and I am proud to be among them. By passing the Social 
Security 2100 Act, we honor our promise to older Americans and disabled 
Americans.

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