Energy Independence

ENERGY INDEPENDENCE -- (House of Representatives - June 10, 2008)

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Mr. NEUGEBAUER. Well, I thank the gentleman from Michigan. I also want to thank the gentleman from Oklahoma, because he makes a very good point. And when he says we are importing thousands of dollars, actually it is billions of dollars. Every day America gets up and writes a check for $1 billion-plus to buy enough energy to run this country for 1 day.

What does that mean? That means that it takes $365 billion currently for America to buy enough energy just to run our country on an annual basis, $1 billion every day. And do you know what? Unfortunately, some of that money is going to some folks that aren't all that friendly to the American people. One of those people is Hugo Chavez.

I want to read you what Hugo Chavez thinks about America. He said, ``What we do regarding the imperialist power of the United States, we have no choice but to unite. We use oil in our war against neo-liberalism.'' He also said, ``We have invaded the United States, but with our oil.''

So every day as the American people go to the pumps all across America, what I want them to visualize is that every day we write Hugo Chavez, who calls us imperialists, a $170 million check. That is $62 billion a year. What would happen if we could invest $1 billion a day in America developing America's energy resources, creating jobs for Americans? Think about it. Instead of writing Hugo Chavez a check for $172 million, that we write America a check for $172 million?

I think of the people I know in the 19th Congressional District of Texas, which is a big district, 29,000 square miles, 27 counties, teachers having to drive 60, 70 miles a day to go and teach our young people, that now are looking at doubling the cost of making that commute across the district.

I think about the man last night that I was talking to in my district. He said, ``Congressman,'' he said, ``I have to drive three times a week 30 miles each way to get dialysis so that I can be treated for diabetes.'' He said, ``Congressman, I am down to the point now of having to choose whether I can afford dialysis, afford gasoline, or afford food.''

Madam Speaker, it is time to say yes. We have heard you say no; no to new drilling, no to building additional power plants in this country; no to new refineries. America is wanting you to say yes, because America is tired of writing checks to Hugo Chavez for $160 million every day.

I thank my friend from Michigan tonight for hosting this hour. I hope that somehow the American people realize that there is a willingness on behalf of many Members of Congress to say yes and to move forward and to do something proactive, instead of doing something that is called nothing.

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