[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 7]
[House]
[Page 10070]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    ENERGY PRODUCTION IN OUR COUNTRY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Broun) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BROUN of Georgia. Energy is the lifeblood of the American 
economy. Our economic prosperity is closely tied to the availability of 
reliable and affordable supplies of energy. Unfortunately, U.S. energy 
production has grown only 13 percent, while energy consumption has 
grown by 30 percent since 1973.
  Instead of traveling to spend time with loved ones, record gas prices 
will keep many Americans home this Memorial Day. Gas prices are now 
over $1.46 higher nationally than when Speaker Pelosi took over, and 
will shortly be over $4 a gallon. These high prices are forcing many to 
choose between taking a vacation or paying bills.
  It should come as no shock to anyone that AAA predicts that the 
percentage of Americans traveling more than 50 miles from home over 
this holiday weekend will fall by nearly 1 percent from last year. That 
one percent represents hundreds of thousands of families.
  Skyrocketing gas prices and a risky dependence on fuel supplied by 
volatile foreign nations highlight our need for an American energy 
policy that emphasizes production and decreases our reliance upon 
Middle Eastern oil.
  Many here in Congress bemoan America's addiction to foreign oil, yet 
they refuse to allow access to American oil and gas supplies that are 
necessary to cure this addiction. America has been blessed with 
abundant natural resources and we should not be hesitant to tap into 
them, especially at a time when energy prices are soaring so high and 
are climbing higher.
  The Outer Continental Shelf is estimated to contain 19 billion 
barrels of oil and 84 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. Alaska's ANWR 
is estimated to contain between 5.7 and 16 billion barrels of oil. What 
do these two areas share in common? They are both off limits to any 
development. At the same time, China is fixing to tap into our natural 
gas resources off the coast of Florida by 45 to 50 miles, and we can't 
do it ourselves. Not even 100 or 200 miles off shore.
  Developing American oil and gas on these lands will help bring the 
price down and help break the stranglehold on energy that hostile 
countries in the Middle East enjoy. This can be done in an 
environmentally sound manner and should be implemented immediately.
  What is the opposition's solution to this national emergency? How 
about raising the Federal tax on gasoline by 50 cents a gallon, on top 
of an already existing Federal tax of 18.4 cents per gallon and 
increasing the tax on diesel fuel by 24.4 cents per gallon. Gasoline is 
not taxed too little. It is taxed too much. With economic disruptions 
caused by the current high price of gasoline, Congress should 
vigorously oppose any efforts to increase fuel taxes and instead reduce 
or eliminate the already existing Federal fuel taxes.
  Environmental groups haven't allowed a new oil refinery to be built 
in the United States in decades. It does little good to increase our 
use of domestic supplies of oil if we do not have the refinery capacity 
to quickly convert our crude oil into a usable form. Members on both 
sides of the aisle need to stand up to these fringe groups and 
implement policies that encourage construction of new refineries in the 
United States.
  Many Americans are feeling the financial hardship this Memorial 
weekend of record high gasoline prices and will choose not to travel. 
Our energy problems were not created overnight, and will not be solved 
overnight. Congress just act swiftly to address this growing energy 
crisis. America's energy policy must make us stronger and less reliant 
on countries hostile to freedom.
  Passing any so-called ``energy'' bill that fails to produce even one 
single kilowatt of new energy, or produce a gallon of gas, is not the 
solution. We must pass legislation that will allow for responsible use 
of our known American supplies of energy that reduce excessive and 
burdensome environmental policies and encourage the development of 
alternative forms of energy, such as nuclear power, that has proven to 
be incredibly safe and a successful source of energy.
  I stand ready to do so, and encourage my colleagues to do the same.

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