[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 3]
[House]
[Page 3951]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                           WE MUST ACT TODAY

  (Mr. FARENTHOLD asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. FARENTHOLD. Since the time President Obama took office in 2009, 
the price of gasoline has more than doubled, rising from $1.53 a gallon 
to $3.52. America has become more dependent on foreign oil, undermining 
our national security while forcing hardworking Americans to endure 
budget-busting gasoline prices.
  When you fill up your car, it's not the oil companies you should be 
blaming; it's the White House. Excessive government regulation, the 
fact that offshore drilling in the Gulf of Mexico is all but shut down, 
and the attempt to end the tax incentives for oil exploration are all 
factors. The culture of ``no'' from the executive branch is killing us. 
Add to that the lack of any action in light of the deteriorating 
situation in the Middle East, Egypt, and Libya, in particular, and we 
have a failure of leadership at the top of this country.
  Energy is key to our economy. Scores of jobs rely on it. And $3.50 
gasoline is unacceptable.
  I call on the President to act today. Call off the EPA. Issue those 
leases and permits in the gulf. Open America's land for drilling. And 
quit demonizing the oil and gas industry.

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