[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 14]
[House]
[Page 18710]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




          AMERICA DESERVES A NEW DIRECTION ON ENERGY POLICIES

  (Ms. SCHWARTZ of Pennsylvania asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. SCHWARTZ of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, hardworking Americans are 
stretched thin. Under the Republican majority, their wages have 
remained stagnant, while their day-to-day expenses have all increased: 
health insurance, childcare, tuition, housing, energy bills.
  Energy costs have skyrocketed, whether at the pump, at home or in 
business. Americans are paying more, and they are looking to Congress 
for relief. They are asking, demanding, that we work to reduce these 
costs, reduce dependence on foreign oil and make our Nation more 
secure. They are looking for a new direction.
  Democrats have responded and Democrats have a plan. Democrats will 
double the production of renewable fuels like ethanol and biodiesel; 
Democrats will increase accessibility to renewable fuels at the pumps; 
and Democrats will aggressively invest in the future to assure their 
energy needs are not tied to the whims of unfriendly nations in the 
Middle East. Our plan will reduce costs for American consumers, and it 
will make this Nation safer. It is smart, and it is common sense.
  What have the Republicans done? They have given away billions to the 
oil industry. America deserves a 21st century solution to energy needs, 
not oil industry handouts.
  Mr. Speaker, America deserves a new direction.

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