WASHINGTON – Earlier this afternoon, House Republicans gathered on the West Front Steps of the U.S. Capitol to unveil the American Energy Act, a landmark measure to lower gas prices and break American  dependence on foreign oil. Beginning today, House Republicans will demand an up-or-down vote on this “all of the above” energy legislation  before Congress adjourns for the month of August.

Rep. Adam Putnam (R-FL), Chairman of the House Republican Conference, issued the following statement:

“With the pain at the pump showing no signs of letup and the dog days of summer upon us, the American people are looking for meaningful solutions to lower gas prices and break our dependence on foreign oil.

“To date, the Democratic majority’s notion of an energy agenda has been a hodgepodge of half-measures fueled by fuzzy math – mile-wide rhetoric with inch-deep results.

“That’s why we need an ‘all of the above’ energy strategy, which we have put into a single bill: H.R. 6656, the American Energy Act.  

“The American Energy Act will increase the supply of American-made energy, improve conservation and efficiency, and promote renewable and alternative energy technologies. In addition to lowering gas prices, this landmark measure will make our nation less dependent on foreign oil.

“Our message couldn’t be clearer: We are demanding an up-or-down vote on the American Energy Act before Congress adjourns for the month of August.

“With this one vote, we can put an end to the broken status quo that has made America a nation of $4 gasoline.”

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 NOTE. A brief summary the American Energy Act (H.R. 6566) follows:

To increase the supply of American-made energy in environmentally sound ways, the American Energy Act will:

Open America's deep water ocean resources, which could provide an additional 3 million barrels of oil per day, as well as 76 trillion cubic feet of natural gas;
Open the Arctic coastal plain, which could provide an additional 1 million barrels of oil per day;
Allow development of our nation’s shale oil resources, which could provide an additional 2.5 million barrels of oil per day; and
Increase the supply of gas at the pump by cutting bureaucratic red tape that hinders the construction of new refineries.

To improve energy conservation and efficiency, the American Energy Act will:

Provide tax incentives for businesses and families that purchase more fuel efficient vehicles;
Provide a monetary prize for being the first to develop an economically feasible, super-fuel-efficient vehicle (reaching 100 miles-per-gallon); and
Provide tax incentives for businesses and homeowners who improve their energy efficiency.

To promote alternative and renewable energy technologies, the American Energy Act will:

Spur the development of alternative fuels through government contracting, the repeal of the "Section 526" prohibition on government purchasing of alternative energy and promotion of coal-to-liquids technology;
Establish a renewable energy trust fund using revenues generated by exploration in the deep ocean and on the Arctic coastal plain;
Permanently extend the tax credit for alternative energy production, including wind, solar and hydrogen; and
Eliminate barriers to the expansion of emission-free nuclear power production.

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