House Committee on Education and Labor
U.S. House of Representatives

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. House Education and Labor Committee’s Senior Republican, Rep. Howard P. “Buck” McKeon (R-CA), today highlighted the newly-unveiled Republican energy agenda as a benefit for all Americans, including the teachers, students, workers, and small businesses that have been struggling with rising energy costs.

“Today’s record-high fuel prices are putting the squeeze on all Americans’ pocketbooks, whether through the Pelosi Premium being paid at the pump or its ripple effect through the economy in the form of higher prices on food and household goods,” said McKeon. “Republicans recognize that hardworking Americans need relief, and that’s why we have outlined an ambitious agenda to increase American-made energy, bring down gas prices, and move toward energy independence.”

The Republican energy agenda outlined today offers specific benefits for workers, small-businesses, and schools, which have been straining in the face of spiking fuel costs.  Specifically, the Republican plan will:

•    Increase production of American-made energy in an environmentally-safe way, which will bring down gas prices while creating jobs here at home;

•    Promote new, clean, and reliable sources of energy like advanced nuclear and next generation coal, an area where America has fallen behind its international competitors such as France, which relies on safe, carbon-free and environmentally friendly nuclear energy for 80 percent of its electricity needs, compared to just 19 percent in America;

•    Cut red tape and increase the supply of American-made fuel and energy; and

•    Encourage greater energy efficiency by offering conservation tax incentives to Americans who make their home, car, and business more energy efficient.

With energy costs rising almost daily, schools across the country have been struggling to cope.  As reported this week by Inside Higher Ed:

“Many community college students have tight budgets. Now, it seems, they’re feeling even more of a crunch from rising energy prices — a problem for anyone with a car, but one that disproportionately affects students at commuter colleges who in many cases work part time or raise children in addition to taking classes.” (“Dropping a Day to Save on Gas,” Inside Higher Ed, 19 May 2008.)

Likewise, small businesses have been grappling with prices at the pump.  The New York Times chronicled the challenges of rising fuel costs, writing:

“Allen Taylor, an appliance repairman based in Delhi, travels as much as 170 miles a day for work and says that he spends about $800 a month on gas.  Mr. Taylor says he was appalled when his accountant told him, ‘I had to increase my basic service charge from $60 to $65 just to break even,’ Mr. Taylor said. That was in 2007. With gas costs pinching his customers so much, Mr. Taylor says he is reluctant to raise his prices. ‘I’m worried with the way the gas is going now, it’s going to put small-business owners like me out of business,’ he said. ‘There’s only so much we can charge, only so much people will pay.’”  (“Places to Go, but Dreading the Fill-Up,” The New York Times, 17 May 2008.)

“As fuel prices continue to climb, Americans are crying out for change,” said McKeon.  “The Republican energy agenda answers that call, offering Americans the change they deserve through a comprehensive approach to energy independence that will create jobs, increase conservation, and ease the strain on American workers, families, and schools.”

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