Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2007

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, ENVIRONMENT, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2007

Mr. EDWARDS. Mr. Chairman, I oppose this amendment because it will continue the status quo of high natural gas prices that are harming every day hardworking American families.

The choice is clear: we can either increase the supply of natural gas in this country, or we can continue to pay some of the highest prices in the world for natural gas.

So what is wrong with the status quo? What is wrong with high natural gas prices? First, millions of middle-and low-income working families are suffering from costly increases in their home heating and cooling bills. Those high monthly bills are straining and even breaking family budgets all across America.

Second, family farmers and ranchers are already struggling with natural disasters, high diesel costs, and foreign government-subsidized competition. Now, high natural gas costs have driven nitrogen fertilizer costs from $100 a ton to more than $350 a ton. For many ag producers, higher fertilizer costs will be the straw that breaks the camel's back.

And by the way, if you like what OPEC has done for high oil prices, you will love what dependence on foreign food will do to the price of food products in American grocery stores.

The third reason I oppose this amendment is that I am sick and tired of seeing good-paying American jobs being shipped overseas. American factories run by high-priced natural gas here at home are being put at a huge disadvantage against foreign factories using lower-cost natural gas. For American factories and businesses to compete with foreign factories and businesses, it is kind of like trying to run a race with a 20-pound weight tied around your ankle. It just won't work. And the price for that is we are losing the race for international competition for good-paying jobs.

The final reason I oppose this amendment is that in my district the utility companies in Texas want to build five new coal-fired plants for electric power. Tell me how replacing natural gas-fired plants with coal-fired plans, increasing mercury, CO2, and other pollutants in the air, in our streams, and in our lakes is good for America.

Stand up for our farmers, our factories, and for hardworking American families. Vote ``no'' on this amendment.

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