[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 10]
[House]
[Page 14427]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                           THE ENERGY DEBATE

  (Mrs. BACHMANN asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Mrs. BACHMANN. Mr. Speaker, I actually think that we're at a 
refreshing point of clarity in the energy debate, because the one thing 
that we have learned is the only thing standing between the American 
people and lower energy prices at the pump is the Democrat-controlled 
Congress.
  They've made their position very clear. It is drive less and pay 
more. Or, as we heard yesterday, drive small cars and wait for the 
wind. Or, the other suggestion we've heard is the Congress has done 
such a wonderful job running a railroad, now let's have Congress take 
over the energy industry and we can run that, too.
  It's only been in the last 18 months that we have seen energy prices 
increase a dramatic 76 percent. At 9 percent approval rating, I don't 
think we're hearing a clamoring from the American people for Congress 
to take over and run anything.
  The Republican Party now has become the party of the little guy. We 
want to open up energy exploration, permit expediting so that we can 
get this online. We don't have to wait 20 years. That's Congress that 
caused those barriers. Congress can unlock those barriers and bring 
clarity back to the issue.

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