PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 5540, CHESAPEAKE BAY GATEWAYS AND WATERTRAILS NETWORK CONTINUING AUTHORIZATION ACT
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Mr. KINGSTON. I thank the gentleman for yielding, and wanted to point out that yesterday we passed Soap Box Derby Appreciation Day. And I guess that's fitting because that must be the Democrat idea to conserve oil and look for alternatives, because at the rate gas prices are going, we will all be driving soap box cars that are powered by feet.
Look at the gas prices. When the Pelosi regime took over the House of Representatives, gas prices were $2.33 a gallon. Now, they promised to reduce those prices; yet a funny thing happened on the way to the pump. It is now about $4 a gallon. Well, I guess if that's indicative of the promises that the Democrats keep and the way they deliver it, maybe it's right that yet again today we are ignoring any serious legislation that would address gas prices.
You know, it's interesting. It's been over 10 years since President Clinton vetoed drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Reserve. Now, I want to put this in perspective for you. Remember, Alaska is twice as big as Texas. The reserve area is the size of South Carolina. The potential exploration area is about 2,000 acres.
Now, a word picture would be that if the Arctic wildlife reserve was a basketball court, the proposed exploration area is a business card. And yet, the radical extremists in the liberal community are afraid to drill there.
I just got back from a bipartisan trip to the Middle East. We met with oil ministries from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. And you know what they said?
How dare you Americans come to the Middle East and demand that we reduce oil and gas prices when you won't even drill on your own lands.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman's time has expired.
Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield the gentleman an additional 30 seconds.
Mr. KINGSTON. You have the audacity to come to us and tell us to drill more and yet you won't even unlock your own lands. What kind of hypocrisy is that? Instead, you know what the Democrats do? They make it easier to sue OPEC. Well, that sounds good, but the reality is what they told us is, Hey, the higher the cost of doing business in America is the less willing we are to do business there. And guess what? China and India are willing to buy our product as is. You increase the price of doing business in America, China and India will step in that void. Keep that in mind.
One more day the Democrats are ignoring high gas prices.
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