Published: 07-16-08
More Than 1.3 Million Americans Sign Petition Demanding More American Energy Production From Democrats Who Control Congress
WASHINGTON—At an event on Capitol Hill earlier today U.S. Sen. John Cornyn Vice Chairman of the Senate Republican Conference joined members of the House and Senate GOP leadership in accepting the signatures of more than 1.3 million Americans who have signed a petition demanding that Congress increase production of American energy to help reduce gas prices. The petition will be delivered to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi D-Calif. and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid D-Nev.
Sen. Cornyn made the following statement regarding this petition which came one day after President Bush lifted the executive order on offshore exploration for oil:
“It has been 813 days since the Democratic leadership in Congress first promised to put forward a ‘common-sense plan’ to bring down the price of gasoline at the pump. Yet over the past 813 days the price of gas has risen from $2.33 a gallon to $4.11 a gallon. When will House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid recognize that the American people including my constituents in Texas deserve and demand relief at the gas pump?
“In contrast Republicans in the Senate have introduced a common-sense and balanced bill that can be summed up in four words – find more use less. ‘Find more’ means increasing American production by one-third through offshore exploration and western states oil shale. ‘Use less’ means reducing imported oil by one-third by making it easier for millions of Americans to drive plug-in cars and trucks. These steps will put America on a course to lower gas prices more energy independence and put an end to sending billions of dollars overseas to buy oil from countries harboring and supporting terrorists.
“The more than one million Americans who signed this petition represent a fraction of the millions more who are demanding action from the Congress. Every time I return home to talk with Texans I hear the same message – we need to do something to bring down the cost of gas and do it quickly. I wish Republicans could do it on our own but only the Democratic Leader has the power to call up legislation. I’m asking Senator Reid again today to please listen to what the American people are telling us. Congress needs to be part of the solution and do what we can to help make their lives a little bit better.”
For more information on Sen. Cornyn efforts to reduce gas prices and bolster America’s energy security visit http://cornyn.senate.gov/gasprices.
