FLASHREPORT

REPUBLICANS IN WASHINGTON MAKE A BOLD STAND FOR CONSUMERS DURING ENERGY CRISIS

U.S. Representative Tom Feeney

[Publisher's Note: As part of an ongoing effort to bring original, thoughtful commentary to you here at the FlashReport, I am pleased to present this column from Congressman and FR friend Tom Feeney. Feeney represents a portion of Central Florida in the United States House of Representatives. - Flash]

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It's August and most of your lawmakers are still on break as you personally feel the energy crisis each time you pay your air conditioning bill, drive up to the gas pump, or make a stop at the grocery store.

Before August, I demanded that liberal leadership allow an up or down vote on a comprehensive energy plan that offers immediate relief at the pump and unshackles American sources of solar power, nuclear energy, coal, wind, and oil shale. Seniors are hurting. Hardworking middle class families are hurting. And the American economy is hurting. The American people deserve a vote.

However, Speaker Pelosi ignored my request and the calls from American families, ultimately deciding to keep her bags packed and break for August without a vote.

Despite liberal leadership's decision to adjourn for an August break, a small but vocal group of Republicans are fighting for hardworking Americans and remain determined to have Speaker Pelosi call Congress into session to address the energy crisis. Speaker Pelosi may have adjourned and turned the cameras off and the lights out on the House floor, but over the last 2 weeks, 105 Republican members have either returned to DC or stayed in town to take their message directly to tour groups and visitors at the Capitol. Not a single Democrat has returned to the House floor.

This week, I too returned to the Capitol to demand that Speaker Pelosi return from her book tour and call Congress back into session to lower energy prices that are crippling small businesses, tourism and American families. By refusing to develop America's energy sources, liberal Nancy Pelosi is handing power directly to dangerous leaders like Venezuela's Hugo Chavez and Iran's Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. These terrorists are using American dollars to hurt American interests and our allies.

Back in Florida, I heard loud and clear that the people want a comprehensive energy plan that lowers energy prices today and maps out a plan for America’s future to remove our dependence on foreign oil. I have introduced a ten point plan to make Americans totally independent from foreign oil by 2025 by broadening and diversifying America's energy portfolio to include conventional and unconventional sources and not exclude any economically feasible source.

Modern and safe offshore drilling is just one point of my plan and just one of many weapons we have at our disposal to address gasoline prices, home energy costs and energy security. America must take advantage of solar power, nuclear energy, coal, wind, and oil shale.

We need to renew the expiring solar energy tax credit so businesses and homeowners continue installing solar systems. We must maintain aggressive research and development efforts, like those conducted by the Florida Solar Energy Center, so solar energy and green building design become integrated into American life.

America crippled our own nuclear technology 35 years ago and France became the world's leader. France now reaps the rewards and generates 78% of its electricity from clean, efficient and affordable nuclear energy.

I also support greater use of coal to produce the electricity needed to air condition our homes and lower our high technology economy. Coal is cleaner than ever and America has 26 percent of the world's coal supply.

We must allow environmentally responsible development of oil shale and tar sands so those alternative oil sources can be brought online like the Canadians have developed their tar sands in Alberta.

Immediately, Congress must open up 2,000 of the 19,600,000 acres of Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil exploration. This is simply the size of a stamp on a football field.

Congress should extend the renewable energy production tax credit and streamline environmental permitting – especially for offshore sites – so wind farms can be expeditiously developed.

Clearly there are options to fix the energy crisis, but sadly Speaker Pelosi's dismal book sales have taken priority over the needs of America's hardworking families. You deserve better. You deserve lawmakers with plans for American energy, American businesses, American workers, and American families. Tell the Speaker that you want Congress back to work and that you deserve a vote on a comprehensive plan to lower gas prices immediately and unleash America's energy sources.

Americans can no longer afford the liberal's "Just Say No" energy policy.

Capitol Switchboard:
202-224-3121
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Congressman Tom Feeney represents Florida's 24th Congressional District.