We need an energy plan for the future—a balanced, proactive national energy policy that not only increases energy production, but also decreases energy demand.  

Gas prices continue to soar, and we must act now to bring these prices down.  Already, I have asked President Bush and Energy Secretary Abraham to tell OPEC to increase their oil production and to work with domestic oil refineries to boost their oil inventories.   I am also calling on the Administration to guard our consumers against price gouging by the big oil companies.

But we cannot stop there.  We must also increase research and development in new energy technologies that increase conservation and alternative and renewable fuel sources to reduce our oil dependence.  This may not be an immediate answer, but it is certainly important for the long-term as fossil fuel sources diminish.  Surely, if we can create the technology to send a man to the moon, we can develop a crop that our farmers can grow that can provide an alternative source for fuel.

This is a complicated problem with no easy answers.  I will work hard to see that we achieve a balanced, proactive, and bipartisan solution to this crisis that brings relief to the hard working people of south Arkansas.