[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 11]
[House]
[Page 15865]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              WISHFUL THINKING WON'T BRING DOWN GAS PRICES

  (Mr. SMITH of Nebraska asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. SMITH of Nebraska. Madam Speaker, I say that wishful thinking on 
the part of Congress will not bring down gas prices. I truly believe, 
and evidence shows, that action to bring about more supply will bring 
down gas prices.
  More supply perhaps from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve? Maybe, but 
not without replacing those reserves, and we know we can do that with 
Outer Continental Shelf drilling, as well as responsible, 
environmentally sensitive drilling in Alaska. We can do that.
  Consumers will benefit, such as the single mom in my district who 
called and told me that a one-way drive to work so that she can feed 
her family is 40 miles, one way. There's no option of a subway. There's 
no option of public transportation. She has to pay for it. These gas 
prices are hurting her and her family.
  And, Madam Speaker, we can do better. We must do better.

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