HOUSE Republican Leader John Boehner

A Defining Week for Congress

By Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH)

The final week before the August district work period is typically among the busiest of all for Congress — and usually one during which major legislation is passed in advance of the lengthy recess away from Washington. The pressure is on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Senators Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Barack Obama (D-Ill.), and their colleagues in the Democratic leadership to carry on that tradition this week by bringing to the floor of each chamber comprehensive legislation that increases production of American energy to address the number one issue on the minds of the American people: the rising cost of gasoline.

Today begins a defining week for Congress. All year long, gas prices have soared as a result of misguided Washington policies. Even with the small recent dip since President Bush ended the executive ban on deepwater drilling far off our shores (a ban that Congress also needs to lift in order for critical energy production to take place in the oil-and gas-rich Outer Continental Shelf), families and small businesses know we will never see $2 or even $3 per gallon gasoline until the Democratic Majority signals real support for American-made energy to lower gas prices. Over the next five days, Congress has a chance to make this commitment - but only if Democratic leaders allow it.

Throughout the summer, Republicans have asked for a vote on an “all of the above” energy strategy built on increased exploration, conservation, and innovation — the reforms Americans solidly support in poll after poll. And throughout the summer, the Democratic leaders of Congress have made every excuse to block a vote — all at the behest of a tiny band of radical special-interest groups that support high gas prices and aim to keep America’s vast energy resources under lock-and-key. Speaker Pelosi plainly stated in a recent CNN interview, in fact, that when it comes to allowing a vote on the reforms the American people expect and support, she has “no plans to do so.”

Indeed, Democratic leaders have pulled out all the stops to avoid a meaningful vote for more American energy. They’ve shut down the entire appropriations process — the only annual activity the Constitution tasks Congress to handle — simply to block votes on deepwater ocean drilling. They’ve cobbled together phony bills in a failed attempt to fool Americans into believing the Democratic Congress is expanding our energy supply. And they’ve even silenced rank-and-file Members of their own party, in both the House and the Senate, who would vote for the GOP’s “all of the above” plan.

In spite of weeks of Democratic leaders scrambling to “run out the clock” before the August recess, it is even more of a priority now than ever. Not only can we expect historically-high gas prices to become a fixture for consumers, but once summer turns to fall, home heating bills will surge just as gas prices have, underscoring the need to utilize America’s oil and gas resources to help bring down energy costs across the board.

Last week, House Republicans transformed our “all of the above” plan into a single piece of legislation: the American Energy Act, which encourages conservation and efficiency, promotes alternative forms of energy such as biofuels and nuclear, and increases production of American energy far offshore, on federal lands in the Inter-Mountain West, and in remote areas of Alaska’s North Slope. This bill would pass Congress with a strong, bipartisan majority right now … if only it was put to a simple up-or-down vote.

If the Democratic Majority refuses to allow a vote later this week on the American Energy Act, House Republicans will stand firmly against a vote to adjourn for the August break. Prior to a lengthy recess, the adjournment vote is usually cast without a second thought. But this week, that vote could mean much, much more. A vote to adjourn without increasing production of American energy to bring down gas prices will be a vote against the American people and a vote against American energy independence. It will be a vote against increased energy exploration, conservation, and innovation. And yes, it will be a vote against lower gas prices — and for continued and dangerous dependence on foreign oil.

Just as this is a defining week for this “drill-nothing” Congress, the adjournment vote could be a defining one for the Democratic Majority. Casting a “yea” or “nay” on that vote would be the difference between heeding the calls of the American people, who strongly support more American-made energy to reduce gas prices, or continuing to defy their will by leaving town for five weeks of politics and vacations — and leaving them to fend for themselves amid energy costs that will only soar higher this fall and beyond.

Cross-posted at Real Clear Politics, and The Hill

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This entry was posted on Monday, July 28th, 2008 at 9:58 am and is filed under Energy, gas prices. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

3 Responses to “A Defining Week for Congress”

1. C. DiMichieli Says:
   July 30th, 2008 at 10:45 am

   I support your position and efforts regarding the vote on drilling. I am perplexed that the arguments for drilling do not include the immense transfer of payments to foreign and often hostile countries. It seems to me that all Americans should be made completely aware of the effect of transfer of payments on our economy and in particular on the creation of jobs in this country. If the argument continues to be concentrated on lowering gas prices, it could become less compelling as the price of oil comes down.
   Drilling domestically is a matter of stability, economic growth, and security for this country.

2. Dave Says:
   August 1st, 2008 at 2:22 pm

   Mr.Majority Leader,

   I am indescribably grateful to learn that Republicans are showing some spine and standing up to Democrats. I encourage and applaud all of you, and might I also say better late than never?

   I’ve been operating on the ‘never’ assumption for quite some time. I lost faith in my representatives, and frankly, you earned it. You should have been acting this way FIVE YEARS AGO. I quit donating money to Republicans, I quit voting, I lost interest.

   This is an opportunity for you to earn it back from people like myself. Do not end this revolt prematurely; see it through past November, and if another subject is called for besides oil, then act on it with the same fervor you’re displaying today.

   You are the party of PRINCIPLE. It is good to see that you remember these principles, and I’d like to believe you won’t forget them again.

   David Perkins
   Irving, TX

3. luann Says:
   August 2nd, 2008 at 8:22 am

   Mr. majority leader,
   I am also proud of republicans right now,but Mrs Nancy Pelosi refuses to put the bill to the floor is disgraceful and I’m ashamed to say she is an American to me she doesn’t care that us American that are living from pay checks to pay check are struggling to make ends meet. Mrs. Pelosi will go down in history as the worst speaker of the house ever.And they wonder why congress rating are lower then the president. Right now she is on a 5 week vacation while we struggle to buy gas for our car so we can go to work. I bet that I’m not the only American who feels this way.

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