WASHINGTON – House Republicans, led by U.S. Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, ranking member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, today wrote to Speaker Nancy Pelosi asking her to allow the House of Representatives to vote on increasing American supplies of energy.
Last week, the speaker asked President Bush to release “a small portion” of crude oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, signaling that she understands that increased supply can lower prices.
“You stated in your letter to the President that ‘deploying a small portion of the resources in the SPR would provide much needed assistance to American consumers,’” wrote the 70 Republicans. “Can you imagine what an act of Congress, signed into law this year, to develop millions of barrels per day in Alaska, the Intermountain West, and in the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf would do?”
Congress has banned offshore exploration in the same Gulf that’s open to the Venezuelans, Indians, Vietnamese and Cubans. And environmentally conscientious countries in the world – from Scandinavia to Japan – have no qualms about developing their own energy resources, including in the waters off their own coasts.
“Americans want more energy production here in America, and we urge you to let the will of the American people prevail by permitting the House to vote on whether we will allow more American energy supply,” the lawmakers wrote. “This is the people’s House. Let’s take the action our constituents need and demand.”
A copy of the letter can be found here.
