Sam
Johnson harps on the high price of gasoline; urges new solutions
to bring down the cost
June
18, 2008
Today
U.S. Congressman Sam Johnson (3rd Dist-Texas) took to the floor
of the House of Representatives to blast the high price of gasoline
and urged the Congress to enact new solutions to bring down the
cost. His remarks prepared for delivery follow.
Shortly
after the Democrats took control of Congress on January 31 2007,
the average cost of a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline was
$1.99 according to DallasGasPrices.com.
Today the national average is $4.07.
Last
week Congressman Johnson signed a discharge petition to immediately
bring legislation up for a vote that would provide relief for
Americans by reducing the high cost of gasoline. Johnson signed
the petition in support of H.R. 3089, the No More Excuses Energy
Act of 2007. Johnson is a co-sponsor of the bill that would reduce
the price at the pump by increasing American oil production and
exploration, and decrease greenhouse emissions by boosting alternative
energy development.
Johnson’s
prepared floor remarks: “Americans
are fed up paying over $4 a gallon for gas and nearly $5 for diesel.
The price of a gallon of gas has spiked $2 since the Democrats
took control of Congress in January 2007. It’s high time
the Democrats did something about the skyrocketing cost of gasoline
and allowed us to explore for oil here in America.
“To bring down the price of gasoline, we
must expand U.S. refinery capacity, tap America’s own energy
resources, streamline the number of fuel blends and promote the
use of clean, alternative energy.
“With the nationwide price for gasoline
now over $4 a gallon, it’s no surprise that a recent Gallup
poll showed 57 percent of Americans now favor further exploration
for oil right here in America. These folks are right. Come on
America, let’s strike oil.”
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