[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 9]
[House]
[Page 12746]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




          LISTENING TO CONSTITUENTS ON ENERGY PRICE INCREASES

  (Mr. LATTA asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, as Congress continues its debate on domestic 
energy policy, we must be aware of what our constituents are saying, 
both at home and at work.
  During this past week, I had the pleasure of touring two 
manufacturing plants in my district. These plants provide hundreds of 
good-paying jobs and produce high-quality products for our Nation's 
economy. During my tours, the management of these companies said that 
hands down, rising energy costs are their number one concern.
  As energy costs rise, production costs rise as well at these plants. 
As production costs rise, companies all over the United States face 
competition from foreign manufacturers who have lower labor costs and, 
in some instances, lower fuel costs. Countries like China and India, 
who are currently exploring many forms of domestic energy production, 
are able to offer lower production costs directly tied to their lower 
energy costs.
  Under the current congressional leadership, Congress will not even 
consider domestic exploration and recovery of an abundance of energy 
resources that we have here in the United States. With these energy 
resources, we can grow our own economy, retain American jobs and 
prevent them from being taken overseas.
  The bottom line is that energy equals manufacturing which equals 
jobs, and we in Congress must remember that as our energy debate 
continues.

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