[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 3]
[House]
[Page 3524]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        ADDICTION TO FOREIGN OIL

  (Mr. TONKO asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, as oil and gas prices continue to rise, 
American consumers and businesses are facing sticker shock at the pump. 
The national average is $3.49, and the average in New York's capital 
region that I represent is $3.69. And yet, rather than take action to 
bring immediate gas price relief or create incentives to invest in 
clean energy alternatives that create jobs and grow our national 
security, the Republican budget would maintain our addiction to foreign 
oil.
  The Republican spending bill ignores energy efficiency, clean energy, 
advanced vehicle technologies, and loan guarantees. What does it leave 
in place, though? Billions of dollars in subsidies for big oil 
companies that they have claimed they don't need, especially as they 
make record profits. And what do we get by throwing billions of hard-
earned taxpayer dollars at these big oil companies? Less money in our 
pockets to get to work and around town.
  Americans are better than the gasoline we put in our vehicles. It is 
time we wake up and realize it, and advance research and development.

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