Expressing the Sense of The Senate Regarding the Use of Gasoline and Other Fuels by Federal Departments and Agencies

Floor Speech

EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE REGARDING THE USE OF GASOLINE AND OTHER FUELS BY FEDERAL DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES -- (Senate - May 22, 2008)

Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that we now proceed to S. Res. 577.

The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.

The legislative clerk read as follows:

A resolution (S. Res. 577) to express the sense of the Senate regarding the use of gasoline and other fuels by Federal departments and agencies.

There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the resolution.

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I rise today to discuss an issue that hits deep at the heart--and pocketbooks--of Americans nationwide: rising gasoline prices.

Each and every day, Americans contend with a rapid and inexplicable increase in gasoline prices. Over the last month, the average price of gasoline has increased a penny a day.

A barrel of oil is at $133.17.

The impacts of these increases are staggering.

I have heard stories of how individual Americans are coping with the problem of increased gas prices as they conduct their daily lives with their families and in their work environments.

They are finding ways to reduce their consumption of gasoline by driving less, altering daily routines, and even changing family vacation plans.

To me, this example of changing family vacation plans is all the more poignant on the eve of what is usually a busy holiday weekend, a holiday that usually sees many Americans traveling by car out of town.

In fact, travel over this holiday weekend is expected to be down for the first time since September 11, 2001.

The bottom line, Mr. President, is Americans are tightening their belts in ways that bring hardships, but save dollars that are necessary to meet essential family needs. And while small in comparison to the overall problem of supply and demand of gasoline, these efforts do add up. I never dismiss the American ``can do'' spirit.

In one word, it is individual conservation. And in cases such as this, when individuals are leading the way, the government should join.

The purpose of the Sense of the Senate Resolution that I am pleased to offer is to urge the federal government to likewise take initiatives to cut back--even in a small measure--its daily consumption of gasoline and other fuels.

I believe such a move would signal to Americans that their government is sharing the daily hardships occasioned by this turbulent, uncertain energy crisis.

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