KEARNEY, NE- Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) today released the following statement in light of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) apparent willingness to allow a vote on offshore drilling earlier this week.

"I appreciate Speaker Pelosi's willingness to reverse her wrong-headed opposition to an open, fair debate and vote on energy legislation.  For too long, commonsense legislation has been held hostage to the majority party's legislative maneuvers. 

 "I want to thank every Nebraskan who expressed their concern over rising gas prices to me personally and through contacts to my office.  These past two weeks, I have traveled from one end of the Third District to the other, and energy is not only the number one issue, it is the number two, three, four, and five issues as well.

 "Even if we do get a fair and open debate over the issue, there is still more work that needs to be done.  We need to act on a comprehensive energy policy -- one that includes all sources of American energy from tapping into off-shore oil reserves to research and development of alternative fuels -- as soon as possible.  I will continue to call for a vote on such a proposal, and I urge all Nebraskans to join with me."