‘We cannot continue to ignore the number-one issue on the American people’s minds: high gas prices’
Washington, D.C.—U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell offered the Republicans’ energy plan, the ‘American Energy Production Act S. 2958’ as an amendment to S. 2284 Wednesday, and made the following remarks on the Senate floor:
“The flood insurance bill that was reported out of the Senate Banking Committee unanimously is a good bill, and I intend to support it.
“However, as important as it is that we strengthen the flood insurance program and get it back on sound financial footing, we cannot continue to ignore the number-one issue on the American people’s minds: high gas prices.
“Two years ago, Democratic leaders told us that they had a ‘commonsense’ plan to lower gas prices. But since they took control of Congress, gas prices have risen by $1.29 per gallon, according to AAA.
“At home in Kentucky, the average price of a gallon of gasoline is now $3.58. Diesel fuel – which runs our trucks and farm machinery – is now $4.11. This creates real hardships for families, small businesses, and farmers.
“Apparently, the Democrats’ ‘commonsense’ plan is not working as intended. In fact, the general thrust of their plan is to increase taxes on energy companies – which would raise, not lower, gas prices.
“But Republicans do have a plan to reduce gas prices over the long term by increasing our supply of American energy and American jobs right here at home.
“In last year’s energy bill, we passed a number of provisions to reduce demand for oil, including increasing fuel economy standards for cars and trucks, and increasing the use of alternative fuels.
“Those were important provisions, and I supported them.
“But we cannot seriously address the root cause of today’s high gas prices without also addressing the issue of supply.
“The Senior Senator from New York said last week that 500,000 more barrels of oil per day on the world market would bring relief at the pump.
“I agree with him. The difference is – I believe we should produce those additional barrels of oil right here in America, with American jobs, to bring prices down.
“The fact is, if President Clinton had not vetoed a bill to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge thirteen years ago, one million barrels of oil would be flowing from ANWR to American consumers every day – twice the amount that Senator Schumer indicated would lessen the pain at the pump.
“So we will have a good debate on the flood insurance bill, and ultimately we will pass it.
“But first, we are going to discuss the only real plan that would address the root cause of today’s high gas prices by increasing America’s supply of oil, and supporting American jobs, here at home.”
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