Congress Skips Out on its Duties

Op-Ed

Congress Skips Out On Its Duties

By Congressman Joe Pitts

As families across the country continue to struggle with high gas prices, and many forgo their usual August vacations because they just can't afford it, Congress voted not once, but twice in favor of sending itself on a five week vacation. Just because Congress doesn't want to deal with the difficult issue of high gas prices doesn't mean its going away.

The press has widely reported the reason behind the absolute lack of legislation on the House floor that could possibly increase American production of American energy—because it would most likely pass. Speaker Pelosi, who has made well known she is on a crusade to "save the planet" will simply not allow the House to vote on legislation that could possibly increase production of American energy resources here at home.

Though we all want a clean environment, the simple truth is, keeping the United States from accessing its own energy resources doesn't end our dependence on oil, it simply makes us more dependent on foreign sources of oil. Many of those foreign sources of oil come from belligerent regimes that do not share our respect for the most basic values of freedom and rule of law.

So now Congress will leave for five weeks while families across America continue to pull up to the gas station with empty tanks and leave with empty wallets.

A bipartisan consensus is emerging here on Capitol Hill that we need an "all of the above" approach to solving our energy problem—the same type of all of the above approach House Republicans have been pushing for weeks now. That means we need to increase conservation and efficiency, promote the renewable and alternative technologies of the future, and increase access to American energy resources now.

Even Speaker Pelosi's home state of California is now in favor of drilling in the deep waters off our coasts, even though the state is home to an immense shoreline. Members of Pelosi's own party have come out in public support for increased oil and gas exploration on the outer continental shelf.

This is nothing short of a dereliction of duty. No boss would allow their employees to simply go on vacation while the company is squeezed by high costs on one of its most important supplies. The American people need to understand that Speaker Pelosi controls the agenda of the House floor. This means the bipartisan majority in the House that supports a comprehensive solution cannot even have the opportunity to vote on legislation that would increase American made energy. Ironically, in this House of Representatives, the majority does not rule.

It is not as if the House has been too busy to consider energy legislation. In fact, it is interesting to note the pieces of legislation that have been considered on the House floor even as gas prices skyrocketed. On January 29, 2007, gas was $2.22 a gallon. By February 6, 2008, it had reached $3.03 a gallon and the House voted on legislation commending the Houston Dynamo Soccer Team. On May 14, 2008, gas had reached $3.77 a gallon and the House consider legislation designating National Train Day. By June 10 of this year, gas was at $4.09. So, did the House then consider legislation to take a comprehensive approach to bring down gas prices? No. On June 10, the House considered legislation to designate International Year of Sanitation.

There has not been a lack of time to deal with the issue of skyrocketing gas prices—there has been a lack of will.

The American people will have five weeks to consider how they feel about the current leadership in Congress. Perhaps five weeks will give Speaker Pelosi enough time to hear the anger of the American and have a change of heart.

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