[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 12]
[House]
[Page 16002]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 REPUBLICANS IGNORE RISING ENERGY COSTS

  (Mr. FILNER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, gas prices are once again at record highs. 
According to the Bush administration's own Energy Department, the 
average national price at the pump is now over $3 a gallon. We are 
facing the biggest price rise since Hurricane Katrina 11 months ago.
  Yet this Republican Do-Nothing Congress, this Do-Nothing Congress is 
prepared to leave at the end of the week for a 5-week recess without 
passing any legislation that will help consumers with prices at the 
pump. What is the holdup--beside the giant heist of American people?
  Why will House Republicans not work with us to hold Big Oil's feet to 
the fire for any price gouging that is now going on? Why will these 
House Republicans not join us in repealing $20 billion in tax breaks 
and subsidies that they gave Big Oil last year? Why won't they join us 
in taking that money and investing in new energies of the future so we 
can end our dependence on foreign oil?
  The answer, I think, has everything to do with their cozy 
relationship with Big Oil. It is no wonder that most people think that 
the letters GOP mean Gas, Oil and Petroleum.
  Mr. Speaker, Americans have dealt with high gas prices all summer 
long. It is time this House started listening to their needs rather 
than the needs of the special interests in the gas and oil industry.

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