[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 8]
[House]
[Page 11501]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         HIGH FUEL COST CRISIS

  (Mr. ALEXANDER asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute.)
  Mr. ALEXANDER. Madam Speaker, I rise today, just as many of my 
colleagues have done, to address the urgent high fuel cost crisis. Yes, 
Madam Speaker, it is a crisis that is facing all Americans. From the 
trucker who can no longer afford to operate his rig, to the farmer who 
must keep the tractors in the barn, or to the small business owner who 
is being forced to close their doors, the daily commuter, or the 
general consumer. It is a crisis.
  You know, we are being told that we buy petroleum from other 
countries, oftentimes countries that don't even like us, because many 
in this country see our resources as a liability, an economic or an 
environmental hazard. We have got to change that mind set. We must 
allow ourselves the opportunity to drill on our own land, in ANWR, off 
our own coastlines. We must increase refining capacity instead of 
continuing to shut down more factories.

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