    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2008, Book II)]
    [August 2, 2008]
    [Pages 1098-1099]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    The President's Radio Address
    August 2, 2008

        Good morning. This weekend marks the beginning of August, the month
    when many Americans take their summer vacation. This year, however, the
    high price of gas is taking a toll on summer travelers. Congress is now
    taking a month-long recess of its own. Unfortunately, Democratic leaders
    are leaving town without taking any action to ease the burden of high
    gas prices on families across America.
        The fundamental source of high gas prices is the fact that supply is
    not keeping pace with demand. To reduce pressure on prices, we need to
    increase the supply of oil, especially oil produced here at home. So, in
    June, I called on Congress to lift the legislative ban that prevents
    offshore exploration of parts of the Outer Continental Shelf or OCS. But
    the leaders of the Democratic Congress have refused to allow a vote.
    Lifting the ban on this offshore exploration would benefit our economy
    in two important ways.
        First, lifting the ban would allow our Nation to take advantage of a
    large and reliable source of domestic oil. Experts believe that these
    restricted areas could eventually produce about 18 billion barrels of
    oil; that's almost 10 years worth of America's current oil production.
        Second, lifting the ban would create new opportunities for American
    workers and businesses. On Tuesday, I visited the Lincoln Electric
    Company in Cleveland, Ohio, a business that produces welding products
    used for offshore exploration. If Congress were to permit this
    exploration, it would mean new jobs at businesses like Lincoln Electric.
    American drivers are counting on Congress to lift the ban on offshore
    exploration, and so are American workers.
        Bringing these resources on line will take time, and that means that
    the need for congressional action is urgent. I've lifted the executive
    restrictions on offshore exploration. This means that the only thing now
    standing between the American people and these vast oil resources is the
    United States Congress. The sooner Congress lifts the ban, the sooner we
    can get this oil from beneath the ocean floor to your gas tank.
        We also need to take other essential steps to strengthen domestic
    oil production.

    [[Page 1099]]

    Congress needs to pass legislation that allows us to tap the
    extraordinary potential of oil shale, permits exploration in currently
    restricted areas of northern Alaska, and enables the expansion of
    America's domestic refining capacity.
        It appears that the leaders of the Democratically controlled
    Congress will let the entire summer pass without voting on any of these
    vital steps to help reduce pressure on gas prices. This failure to act
    is unacceptable to me and unacceptable to the American people. So when
    they return from their summer break, Democratic leaders should show that
    they've heard the frustration of the American people by allowing a vote
    on offshore exploration. If Congress does not act, they will owe
    families across America an explanation for why they're ignoring their
    concerns.
        I know that high energy prices are making this a difficult time for
    many of our citizens, but it is important to remember that these high
    prices were not inevitable. They are partially the result of policy
    choices that have been made over the years by the United States
    Congress. Now Congress has an opportunity to begin reversing that
    damage. By opening up new resources at home, we can help bring energy
    costs down, and that will help ensure that our economy remains the
    strongest, most vibrant, and most hopeful in the world.
        Thank you for listening.

    Note: The address was recorded at 10 a.m. on August 1 in Walkers Point,
    ME, for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on August 2. The transcript was made
    available by the Office of the Press Secretary on August 1, but was
    embargoed for release until the broadcast. The Office of the Press
    Secretary also released a Spanish language transcript of this address.