High gas prices and energy costs have had the greatest impact on those who can afford it the least. The single mother, the independent trucker, the senior citizen surviving on a fixed income, small business owners: these are our neighbors and friends who need action on increasing energy prices the most, but are not receiving it because the Democratic Leadership in the House refuses to act. Nearly 140 Republican members of the House protested this willful inaction over the past five weeks.
Now that Congress has returned to Washington, it is time to act. This fall, energy must be Congress' top priority. Families in the Fourth District of Kentucky and across the nation have been struggling to make ends meet for too long. It is past time to adopt a solution to our nation's energy crisis.
Energy is essential to our economy, to job creation and to families across the nation. It is time for a new direction that adopts an "All of the Above" approach to meeting this challenge. In July, I was proud to co-sponsor the American Energy Act of 2008 (H.R. 6566), which will promote the use of all our domestic energy resources, including wind and solar power, oil and natural gas in ANWR and the Outer Continental Shelf, and clean-coal and nuclear technology.
Despite Speaker Pelosi's attempt to quiet dissent by shutting off the lights, cameras and microphones, my colleagues and I continued the debate on energy solutions throughout August and into September. Topics ranged from offshore drilling and oil in ANWR to solar and wind power plants as we discussed the variety of energy solutions. We are determined to highlight our options for cost-effective, reliable American energy. Every day, I receive letters from Kentuckians who are strained by high fuel costs. A constituent from Burlington wrote, "As the strongest nation in the world, it is a shame that the American people are having to sacrifice so much."
By reducing our dependence on foreign oil and investing in American energy, we can lower gas prices, reinvigorate our economy and create thousands of new jobs here at home. In the short term, we must effectively use our domestic resources. In addition, we must invest in the creation of alternative energy. A sensible energy policy must also address incentives for increased conservation and efficiency. Finally, in the long run, we must make strategic investments in energy research so that the fuels of the future are safe, clean and affordable for all Americans.
As our children return to schools that have been forced to raise lunch prices, cut bus routes and squeeze budgets to the breaking point, we can no longer ignore the sweeping impact of our nation's energy crisis. If we do not act now, heating costs will soon create additional challenges for families and businesses throughout Kentucky. Before the high price of energy causes more harm to our communities, Congress must unite and develop a solution that will provide immediate relief for all Americans.