[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 8]
[House]
[Page 10979]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          DO-NOTHING CONGRESS

  (Mr. BUTTERFIELD asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute.)
  Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Mr. Speaker, the House is back in session for yet 
another week. The sad fact is that this House has only been in session 
43 days this year; but once again, the Republican majority refuses to 
schedule any meaningful legislation to address our Nation's energy 
crisis. So that is why we call this the do-nothing Congress.
  The Republican Party's cosy relationship with Big Oil is causing pain 
for the American consumer and jeopardizing our national security. Last 
year, Big Oil recorded record profits, thanks partly to billions in tax 
breaks that Republicans rewarded their friends last year. Yet, House 
Republicans remain defiant in their opposition to repealing the $8 
billion in tax breaks they have given to their friends in the oil 
industry.
  Mr. Speaker, this is really a question of fairness. Why should oil 
companies continue to receive giant tax breaks from the Federal 
Government when they are recording record profits. Democrats want to 
repeal these unnecessary subsidies so we can provide consumers with 
some relief.

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