FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 20, 2005

CONTACT: Brendan Daly/Jennifer Crider 202-226-7616

Pelosi, Dingell: President Exploiting Gas Prices to Pass Republican Energy Bill

Washington, D.C. -- House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi and Congressman John Dingell, the Ranking Member on the Energy and Commerce Committee, wrote a letter to President Bush today calling on him to address the rising price of gasoline and not exploit it to pass the Republicans' misguided energy bill.  This afternoon, the President is giving a speech on energy policy at the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the House of Representatives will take up the Republicans' energy bill.

The full text of the letter follows:

April 20, 2005

The President

The White House

Washington, D.C.  20500

Dear Mr. President:

As you know, gasoline prices have risen by an average 38 cents a gallon in the past two months.  In fact, 70 percent of the American people have already said that the price at the pump is having an impact on their lives.  We understand that the White House is feeling pressure from the American people to act, but misleading the public about the Republican's energy bill is not the answer.

In your weekly radio address last Saturday, you called on Congress to pass the energy bill and implied that the bill would lower costs to consumers.  But your Administration's own Department of Energy studied last year’s conference report on which this bill is based, and concluded that the Republican proposal would actually raise gas prices by 3 cents per gallon. 

The American people deserve an energy policy that would boost the economy, preserve the environment, protect public health, and truly lower gasoline prices.  This bill fails on all fronts.  The Republican energy bill was written by energy lobbyists for the benefit of the energy industry, while hurting the environment, consumers, and taxpayers. 

We encourage you to use your speech to the U.S.-Hispanic Chamber of Commerce to lay out an agenda that seeks to lower gasoline prices, not simply exploit them.

Sincerely,

Nancy Pelosi                            John D. Dingell                        

Democratic Leader                   Ranking Member

                                                Committee on Energy and Commerce

“ Democrats are united in presenting a New Direction for America, one that will make our nation as strong as its people, one that brings opportunity, security, and prosperity to all Americans. ”

Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi