Dreier Votes To Increase Refinery Capacity

June 8, 2006

WASHINGTON, DC - Congressman David Dreier (R-San Dimas,CA), Chairman of the House Rules Committee, voted this week for relief at the gas pump by increasing the nation’s refinery capacity. The Refinery Permit Process Schedule Act, H.R. 5254, was approved with bipartisan support 238-179. .

"At a time of high gas prices, it’s imperative that we increase our refinery capacity. This bill cuts the red tape that has contributed to no new refineries being built in the last 30 years," said Dreier. "With a streamlined and coordinated permitting process, we’ll have more refineries and less pressure on gas prices. This action is necessary as we work to bring relief to consumers, and bring energy production into the 21st century."

H.R. 5254 directs the President to appoint a Federal Coordinator to manage the multi-agency refinery permitting process. The Coordinator will establish a memorandum of agreement to outline the most efficient and expeditious schedule possible for attaining a permit. The bill further facilitates the permitting process by requiring the responsible federal agency to provide technical and legal assistance to states. Additionally, H.R. 5254 instructs the President to designate at least three closed military installations as potentially suitable for construction of a refinery. There are currently 148 refineries in the United States, down from 324 in 1981.