[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 10]
[House]
[Page 13712]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




DEMOCRATS OFFER A NEW ENERGY POLICY THAT REJECTS THE FAILED POLICIES OF 
                                THE PAST

  (Mr. ELLISON asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. ELLISON. Mr. Speaker, with two former oil executives in the White 
House, is it any wonder why gas prices are at a record high? President 
Bush's energy policy, created in secret by Vice President Cheney and by 
Big Oil, leaves us dangerously dependent on foreign oil, and it hurts 
our economy and American families.
  Washington Republicans only offer more drilling, even though 68 
million acres of Federal oil reserves are already open and leased for 
development. New drilling won't lower prices for years to come. In 
fact, drilling in the pristine Alaskan Wildlife Refuge wouldn't yield 
oil for 10 years, and in 22 years, it would only save consumers about 2 
cents a gallon.
  Mr. Speaker, if congressional Republicans really are interested in 
helping consumers at the pump today, they will join us this week in 
passing legislation that forces Big Oil to either drill where they 
already have leases or to lose those leases. It's time Big Oil uses it 
or loses it.

                          ____________________