Gas Prices

Floor Speech

Mr. STUTZMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with concern over oil prices and the effect these high prices have on the American consumer.

In my district in northeast Indiana, fuel prices are around $4.10 a gallon. Just this morning, WANE TV reported gas prices in northeast Indiana will be at $4.29 by the end of today. At $4.29 a gallon, many of my constituents will not get out of the gas station for under $80.

The Third Congressional District of Indiana is rural and geographically expansive, causing many constituents to fill up their gas tanks two to three times a week simply from commuting to and from work. For many, this cost makes their total monthly expenditure for gas at or above their rent or mortgage payment.

When President Obama took office, we saw gas prices at a national average of $1.84. Now we are told gas prices could be as high as $5 by Memorial Day. We cannot continue the status quo and expect Hoosiers to pay at the pump.

That is why, Mr. Speaker, I support H.R. 1229, the Putting the Gulf of Mexico Back to Work Act, and H.R. 1231, Reversing the President's Offshore Moratorium Act, sponsored by Mr. Hastings of Washington. These bills, along with H.R. 1230, the Restarting American Offshore Leasing Now Act, that the House passed last week, will help us move away from our dependence on foreign oil by opening restrictions placed on the Outer Continental Shelf, allowing us to tap into our domestic resources. Doing this will provide jobs to more Americans and lower our gas prices.

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