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I’ve heard from many of you this past week as gas prices have once again risen sharply. I am frustrated by overnight jumps in the price of gas. I support legislation that authorizes the state’s Attorney General to investigate any price gouging. Anyone who is taking advantage of higher prices should be put out of business.
The long-term solution to lowering gas prices is a three-pronged strategy. We need to increase the use of renewable and alternative energy, we need to increase the number of refineries and we need to keep exploring for energy in America.
That is why I cannot understand why Congress has yet to pass legislation to allow energy exploration in the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). I have supported this legislation every time it has been brought up for a vote in the House of Representatives.
ANWR is an area the size of South Carolina with billions of barrels of recoverable oil. New technology means that we could explore the entire region while leaving a footprint the size of Kansas City International Airport.
In addition, I have supported legislation that allows us to explore for energy between 100 and 200 miles off our shore. We are the only developed country in the world that does not allow for exploration that far off our coast.
As world demand of oil increases, the price of gas will only continue to increase. We need to take advantage of our own resources. It’s dangerous and expensive to depend on foreign sources of oil.
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