American Energy Act

AMERICAN ENERGY ACT -- (House of Representatives - July 23, 2008)

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Foxx) is recognized for 5 minutes.

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I don't think anyone could have heard that wonderful 5-minute speech just given by the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Wamp) without being touched and without reflecting on how much we owe our men and women who are fighting every day to protect us and to allow us the opportunity to do what we do here and for everyone else in this country to do what they do. I also want to express my appreciation. I feel very humbled to come here and speak after him.

But I do want to talk about something that is very important to all of our military families, and that is the price of gasoline in our country and what is happening and not happening in our country related to that.

In 2006, Speaker Pelosi, Majority Leader Hoyer, and many other leaders in the Democratic Party promised the American people if they would give them control of Congress, they would do things differently. They said that they would bring down the price of gasoline. Well, the price of gasoline has almost doubled under their watch, and we have yet to see any kind of plan.

However today, House Republicans introduced a bill, H.R. 6566, the American Energy Act, that is a comprehensive measure to reduce gas prices ``by harnessing new technologies, encouraging greater conservation and efficiency, and increasing American energy production in an environmentally safe manner.''

House Republicans will push for an up-or-down vote on the legislation before Congress adjourns for the August recess in 9 days. Our leader, Congressman Boehner, has issued a statement on this bill: House Republicans have a plan to lower gas prices by supporting more production of American energy, encouraging more conservation and efficiency, and promoting greater use of alternative fuels.

Today we have transferred our plan into a single bill that reflects our all-of-the-above strategy. We have only 9 days remaining before the August recess, and it is time for Speaker Pelosi to bring this bill to the floor so Members on both sides of the aisle can give it the support we all know it would receive.

A solid majority of Americans and a bipartisan majority in Congress support more production of American-made energy to help bring down the price at the pump. For months on end, Democratic leaders have instead clung to the anti-American energy policies that have driven gas prices to historic levels and increased our costly and dangerous dependence on foreign sources of oil and gas. By blocking a vote on the all-of-the-above plan to reduce energy costs, Speaker Pelosi, Majority Leader Hoyer and their colleagues in the Democratic leadership are proving themselves complicit in the financial crunch American families feel every time they fill up their tanks. Congress must not adjourn for the August recess without giving the American Energy Act an up-or-down vote, and House Republicans will continue to fight to hold Democratic leaders accountable until the American people get the vote they expect and deserve.

What Americans need to say to the Democratic leadership: Do it here; do it now; do it for America. We can be energy independent. We have the means.

The good Lord has given us the resources we need. Americans need to demand it of the Democratic leadership in the House.

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