Rehberg: "No Recess Until Congress Does Its Homework"
Montana's Congressman, Denny Rehberg, today voted against a Motion to Adjourn the House of Representatives and reiterated his insistence that House Leadership postpone the August Recess until they have allowed an up-or-down vote on the American Energy Act, a comprehensive "all-of-the-above bill" that he cosponsored to address increasing gas prices.
"I was elected to do the work of the people of Montana, and they're demanding action to fix high energy prices," said Rehberg, a member of the powerful Appropriations Committee. "I requested during the debate in New Orleans that Congress postpone its month long recess until we'd passed meaningful energy legislation. My Democratic colleagues stated their intention to wait until a new President took office in January of 2009. They need to know what anyone who has bought a gallon of gas in the last two years already understands: The time for action is now."
Rehberg's plan for energy independence is available on his website at http://www.house.gov/rehberg/energyindependence/. The plan calls for an all-of-the-above energy policy that combines traditional fossil fuels, improved conservation, development of alternatives and research into new technologies. The comprehensive American Energy Act, introduced in the House of Representatives last week, includes all of these measures.
"High gas prices aren't taking a break, and neither should Congress," said Rehberg. "That's why I'm going to keep fighting for a vote on energy solutions. If that means Congress has a shorter recess period, so be it."