Washington- May 6, 2008 

Madam Speaker, the price of gasoline is now averaging over $3.60 a gallon. House Democrats are working to provide some relief, but we face stiff opposition from the White House and congressional Republicans who have opposed every single energy bill that we have brought to the floor this year. When it comes to energy, the GOP doesn't want to work with us. They simply want to say ``no.''

When Democrats voted to repeal unnecessary subsidies to big oil companies so we could instead invest in clean, renewable energy, Republicans overwhelmingly voted ``no.'' It didn't matter that the legislation would reduce our dependence on foreign oil, lower prices at the pump and create new, green jobs. They still preferred the status quo.

When Democrats passed the Energy Price Gouging Act to punish those who take advantage of these record prices by increasing them even further, Republicans overwhelmingly voted ``no.''

Madam Speaker, Democrats understand the hardship that families are facing every time they go to the gas station, and that is why we've passed six bills that would provide real relief to consumers.

It's time Republicans realized that ``no'' is not an energy strategy.