    [Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 42, Number 17 (Monday, May 1, 2006)]
    [Page 807]
    [Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    <R04>
    Remarks During a Visit to a BP Gas Station in Biloxi

    April 27, 2006

        Listen, we've got people like this that are working for a living,
    who are paying higher prices for their gasoline--it's like a tax. And I
    talked the other day about things we can do. The first thing is to make
    sure that nobody is getting cheated. One of the roles of the Federal
    Government is to make sure that you're taken care of.
        We need more refining capacity. One of the reasons why you've got
    high prices is the demand is greater than supply. And when demand is
    greater than supply, the price goes up. They've got in Pascagoula a
    really fine refinery. I remember coming over with the Governor, the
    place was shut down--they got it up and running, and we hope we can put
    a law in place that will encourage them to expand refining capacity.
    We've got a problem because we're dependent on oil from overseas. And
    oil is the main reason--the price of oil is the main thing that drives
    the cost of gasoline.
        One of the things we've got to do is make these trucks run on
    ethanol, and batteries that won't require gasoline. That's what the
    future is going to be.
        Congress is debating some other ideas. And one idea is to give me
    the capacity to raise CAFE standards on automobiles. I encourage them to
    give me that authority. It's an authority that I'd use for light trucks.
    And I intend to use it wisely, if Congress would give me that authority.
        Again, I want to thank you for letting me come by and say hello. It
    seems like everybody is getting better down here. Thank you.

    Note: The President spoke at 3:33 p.m. In his remarks, he referred to
    Gov. Haley Barbour of Mississippi.