Providing for Consideration of H.R. Federal Reserve Racial and Economic Equity Act; Providing for Consideration of H.R. Recovering America's Wildlife Act of and Providing for Consideration of H.R. Meat and Poultry Special Investigator Act of and for Other Purposes
Floor Speech
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Mr. DUNCAN. Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to the previous question so that we can amend the rule to immediately consider H.R. 6858, the American Energy Independence from Russia Act.
As a direct result of President Biden's war on American energy, average national gas prices have hit $5 per gallon. I don't know what they are in Michigan. I know I pay more than $5 a gallon for diesel fuel in South Carolina.
This is the worst energy crisis we have seen since 1973. Why we had an energy crisis in the seventies was supply and demand. We had lessening global supply and increased demand as the economy was growing.
When will we learn?
The American people are feeling the pain directly due to the policies of the Biden administration. This shouldn't come as any surprise to the American people. It really doesn't because the President said during a Presidential debate that he would phase out oil and gas production in the United States, and that is exactly what they are doing. It is costing moms and dads around the country, and Democrats are wondering why gas prices are so high. It is unbelievable.
What is even more unbelievable is that President Biden killed American energy at the same time green-lighting Vladimir Putin's Nord Stream 2 project to allow Vladimir Putin to produce energy and sell it to Europe. We can't do that here at home.
The logic of Joe Biden and the Democrats: kill American energy while promoting energy development of tyrants in Russia, Iran, and Venezuela is unbelievable.
It is simple. You are playing politics with this country's energy crisis. Democrats want high gas prices so they can push their fallacy of a utopian world of wind, solar, and EVs for all. Meanwhile, American families are choosing between filling up their tank, feeding their families, and not doing other things they are used to doing because they are having to pay more at the pump.
Energy prices hurt low-income Americans the hardest. They are seeing their savings erode in a volatile stock market. More of their paychecks are going for basic commodities due to rampant high inflation, and they are paying record-high prices nationwide to fuel their vehicles.
Energy Secretary Granholm's solution for high gas prices? Buy a $55,000 electric vehicle. They can range up to $90,000.
How many American families can afford that?
Even the Biden administration knows that is a failed approach.
I saw a Democrat plan recently that we are going to use more of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to increase supply. Okay. You acknowledge there is a supply-and-demand issue. They are currently tapping the SPR at record levels to meet rising demand. The SPR fell to 538 billion barrels just last month, and that is the lowest level since 1987.
Madam Speaker, that is a finite commodity that once we drain the SPR, unless you produce more energy or buy oil from Iran, Venezuela, or Russia to replenish it--it is not an infinite supply--what are you going to do then?
What are we going to do then when that runs out?
If Americans want to blame someone for record-high gas prices, then look no further than House Democrats who have already blocked Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers' bill, the American Energy Independence from Russia Act, six times. If Democrats block it today, then it will be the seventh time they have blocked a commonsense piece of legislation that is a Republican solution. Now, this bill will approve the Keystone XL pipeline, remove all restrictions on LNG exports, and restart oil and gas leasing on Federal lands and waters.
It is well past time for the Democrats to wake up and follow the science, as they like to say. Stop putting special interest groups before the American people.
Let's flip the switch. Let's support American energy and America first policies. Let's support the American Energy Independence from Russia Act to unleash American energy production and security. Let's take the first step toward lowering gas prices for Americans and quit playing games. We are going to release the SPR oil to increase supply to lower the price at the pump because that is temporary, because once that supply is used up, we are not going to have that to put back into the market. Quit doing that.
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Mr. DUNCAN. Flip the switch, folks. Let's support American energy independence.
Madam Speaker, I urge a ``no'' vote on the previous question so the House can immediately consider this commonsense legislation by Cathy McMorris Rodgers.
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