Pelosi: ‘Energy Independence is Essential
Pelosi: ‘Energy Independence is Essential to Reducing the Price at the Pump’
WASHINGTON, May 8 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Speaker Nancy Pelosi and
House Democratic leaders held a press stakeout this afternoon regarding the
increase in gas prices. Below is her opening statement:
“This weekend, the nationwide average of $3.07 per gallon set a record
- exceeding last August’s previous record. And I’m particularly concerned
because the highest price - $3.49 per gallon - is what is being charged in
my district of San Francisco.
“With Memorial Day travel and the start of the summer driving season
only a few weeks away, drivers are paying a heavy price for the Bush
administration’s failure to enact a comprehensive energy strategy.
“Years of the Bush administration’s policies that have favored Big Oil
over the consumers have resulted in record dependence on foreign oil,
leaving American families and businesses to pay even higher prices.
“This Congress, under the Democratic leadership, is working to make up
for years of inaction, taking America in a new direction that helps bring
down the cost of gas and promotes energy independence. Energy independence
is essential to reducing the price at the pump.
“In the first 100 hours of the new Congress, the House passed
legislation to roll back $14 billion in subsidies for Big Oil, when Big Oil
was already enjoying record profits. Our proposal reinvests that money at
home in clean alternative fuels, renewable energy, and energy efficiency.
“A number of House committees are taking action, holding hearings over
the next few weeks to take a comprehensive look at how we can fight price
gouging; the development of clean alternative fuels; the impact our
dependence on foreign oil has on our economy; and how we can put new
technologies to use to achieve greater energy efficiency.
“I’ve asked Chairman Waxman of the Oversight and Government Reform
Committee to look into this issue. Chairman Dingell of the Energy and
Commerce Committee will quickly mark up the Stupak bill on price gouging.
“We have our Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming
moving forward with its recommendations, and we have Mr. Conyers, the
chairman of the Judiciary Committee, having anti-trust hearings on the
subject of Big Oil.
“We have elevated this issue by creating the Select Committee, and we
will make this July 4th Energy Independence Day with a package that will do
the following things: provide economic incentives to develop and use clean
alternative fuels; help our nation’s farmers fuel our energy independence -
we will send our energy dollars to the Midwest not the Middle East;
encourage an energy innovation economy that will create new jobs and help
small business; and enhance technology driven energy efficiency.
“We will lead our nation in a new direction toward energy independence
that strengthens both our economic and national security.”
Contact: Brendan Daly / Nadeam Elshami, 202-226-7616
SOURCE Office of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi