Sessions, Colleagues Demand Action on Energy Bill after Month-Long Protest

U.S. Congressman Pete Sessions (R-Dallas) today joined House Republican Leadership and Members for a press conference on the Capitol steps to conclude the historic month-long energy protest on the House floor and to call on House Democrats to allow a vote on the American Energy Act (H.R. 6566), a comprehensive energy approach to increase supply, reduce demand and free our nation from dependence on foreign oil.

"While Speaker Nancy Pelosi used the August recess to promote her own book sales, my colleagues and I stood on the House floor to protest Congress' inexcusable failure to address our nation's energy crisis," Sessions said. "As energy prices skyrocket and deflate according to market demands and global events, now more than ever Americans understand that our nation's dependence on foreign oil threatens to disrupt family budgets and the American economy at any moment."

Each work day from August 1 - September 5, 2008, House Republicans protested Congress' failure to allow an up-or-down vote on American-made energy, utilizing tag-team efforts to allow Members to balance District work commitments and energy vote advocacy.

"The American people are fed up with politics as usual, and the high energy prices at the gas pump and on utility bills are visual and fiscal reminders of the price of inaction," Sessions continued. "Energy security is central to both economic and national security. As a nation, we must champion American-made energy with responsible drilling and clean, renewable energy development."

Sessions and Minority Members of Congress continued their call for an up-or-down vote on the American Energy Act (H.R. 6566) that provides an "all-of-the-above" American energy solution:

1. Increase production of American-made energy through responsible drilling in Alaska and the Outer Continental Shelf, which contain enough supply for America's energy needs for over two centuries.

2. Promote cleaner and reliable sources of energy like nuclear, geothermal, clean coal, wind power, and hydroelectric power.

3. Cut red tape and increase American-made energy supplies by removing bureaucratic barriers to oil recovery projects and responsible oil refinery construction.

4. Encourage greater energy efficiency through tax incentives for home and building energy efficiency upgrades, solar and fuel cell credits, and fiber-optic distributed sunlight investment credit.

"As Congress returns to legislative business today, unfortunately Speaker Pelosi and House Democrats have so far demonstrated zero interest in American energy solutions this week - instead opting for "scenic" river legislation to prevent natural gas plant construction and Washington-mandated recess and environment study for school children with the No Child Left Inside Act. I once again urge the Majority in Congress ato put aside personal political agendas and join my colleagues and me in supporting American energy solutions that will help bring down volatile energy prices and promote real energy independence. America deserves better." Sessions concluded.

Source