[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 72 (Monday, May 2, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2247-S2248]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE RESOLUTION 608--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF CONGRESS ABOUT THE NEED 
  TO STOP EXCESSIVE PRICE INCREASES BY OIL AND GAS COMPANIES AND THE 
     IMPORTANCE OF RAPIDLY TRANSITIONING TO A CLEAN ENERGY ECONOMY

  Mr. MERKLEY (for himself, Mr. Murphy, Ms. Warren, Mr. Booker, Mr.

[[Page S2248]]

Van Hollen, and Mr. Blumenthal) submitted the following resolution; 
which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources:

                              S. Res. 608

       Whereas the war in Ukraine has once again highlighted that 
     the dependence of the United States and our allies on fossil 
     fuels threatens the national security of the United States 
     and our allies;
       Whereas according to Pulitzer Prize-winning author Daniel 
     Yergin, clean energy first emerged in the 1970s for energy 
     security purposes;
       Whereas authoritarian regimes across the world are using 
     fossil fuel revenue to support their regimes and to undermine 
     freedom;
       Whereas, according to Dr. Jeff Colgan, countries that rely 
     on oil and gas revenue are more likely to instigate military 
     conflict;
       Whereas the Russian Federation's Ministry of Finance has 
     reported that 40 percent of the Russian Federation's budget 
     is derived from oil and gas production;
       Whereas Americans are suffering from high gasoline and 
     energy prices that, according to the Energy Information 
     Administration, have been exacerbated by the war in Ukraine;
       Whereas oil and gas companies are profiteering off of 
     Russia's war in Ukraine by inflating gas prices at the 
     expense of their consumers;
       Whereas oil and gas companies were reporting record profits 
     even before raising gasoline prices in the wake of the war in 
     Ukraine;
       Whereas the Energy Information Administration has reported 
     that gasoline prices have remained high even after the price 
     of oil has dropped;
       Whereas the biggest oil and gas companies have indicated 
     that much of their record profits will be diverted to 
     executives and shareholders;
       Whereas the Department of Defense has found that increasing 
     temperatures, changing precipitation patterns, and more 
     frequent, intense, and unpredictable extreme weather 
     conditions caused by climate change are exacerbating existing 
     risks and creating new security challenges for United States' 
     interests; and
       Whereas energy efficiency and renewable energy from 
     domestic manufacturers can come online more quickly and 
     reliably than oil and gas production, which will ensure 
     United States energy independence and help us maintain a safe 
     and healthy climate:
       Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that--
       (1) Congress and the Biden Administration must--
       (A) stop price gouging and excessive price increases by oil 
     and gas companies; and
       (B) help consumers and small businesses that are being 
     harmed by rising energy prices; and
       (2) the United States must transition to a clean energy 
     economy as quickly as possible to protect our national 
     security.

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