[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 11]
[House]
[Page 15017]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




         THE UNITED STATES MUST DIVERSIFY ITS ENERGY PORTFOLIO

  (Mrs. BLACKBURN asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Mrs. BLACKBURN. Mr. Speaker, the Democrat majority in this House is 
just refusing to bring forth any legislation that will deal with the 
price at the pump. I think that they are content to have their 
constituents either ride a bike or walk to get where they want to go. 
In my Seventh District of Tennessee, that does not work.
  What they might not know is that what we see happening at the pump is 
happening in every single energy sector. Tennesseeans and Americans are 
paying more than ever for their gasoline, their groceries, and 
naturally to heat and cool their homes. It's bad enough during the 
summer driving months, but what my friends across the aisle might not 
know is that utility officials in Memphis have projected a 30-percent 
spike in the cost of natural gas for this fall. That is on top of a 
13\1/2\ percent increase last fall.
  This Congress must take action and the United States must diversify 
its energy portfolio and incentivize all types of energy production: 
Oil, natural gas, geothermal, hydroelectric, nuclear. It's all there.
  The energy crisis affects everyone, Mr. Speaker. It is time for 
action.

                          ____________________