[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 10]
[House]
[Page 13709]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 BIG OIL DOESN'T NEED MORE LAND TO DRILL; THEY SHOULD USE IT OR LOSE IT

  (Ms. SHEA-PORTER asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute.)
  Ms. SHEA-PORTER. Mr. Speaker, every day, American consumers are being 
squeezed at the pump. They can no longer afford for Congress to be 
divided on this issue.
  I urge every Member of Congress to support legislation on the floor 
that would compel the oil industry to drill on the public lands it 
already controls. Big Oil would either have to produce from these 
lands, would have to show they are being diligent in their development 
or would have to give up the right to control even more Federal energy 
resources.
  Simply put, we are telling Big Oil to either use it or lose it.
  Experts estimate that 68 million acres of leased land could produce 
4.8 million barrels of oil, which would nearly double the Nation's 
total oil production.
  Congressional Republicans and President Bush are calling for domestic 
drilling, saying it is the only solution to control high prices. 
Republicans should then be demanding that Big Oil drill on the 68 
million acres where they already have leases.
  Mr. Speaker, Americans have been deeply hurt by the prices at the 
pump. Republicans should join with the Democrats and should tell Big 
Oil companies to get to work now.

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