[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 14]
[House]
[Page 19193]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




COMPREHENSIVE ENERGY PACKAGE WILL GIVE MONEY TO TAXPAYERS AND CONSUMERS

  (Mr. YARMUTH asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. YARMUTH. Mr. Speaker, this week Congress will vote on an all-
inclusive energy package that will lower gas prices for consumers and 
put money back in taxpayers' pockets.
  The Democratic energy plan will require oil companies to pay 
royalties on leases they have had for years but never paid to use. Big 
Oil has raked in record profits, the largest in American history this 
year, while Americans pump hundreds of dollars into their gas tank. It 
is time Big Oil pay American taxpayers the $15 billion it owes all of 
us for drilling on the American people's land.
  For years, Washington Republicans have been showering Big Oil with 
tax breaks and subsidies. With the big oil companies amassing record 
profits every quarter, they certainly don't need this corporate 
welfare. The Democratic plan will repeal these giveaways to the big 
five oil companies and invest money in renewable money and programs, 
like LIHEAP, that will help Americans heat their homes this winter.
  Mr. Speaker, the Democratic energy plan helps Americans who have been 
suffering from George Bush's failed energy policies for far too long.

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