WASHINGTON - Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04) issued the following statement today after joining House Republicans to announce an energy agenda that will lower gas prices and expand America's energy base.
"We need an energy plan that packs a real punch and makes a visible difference in the price Americans are paying for gas and electricity. Oklahomans are paying a record $3.68 a gallon - a price that is expected to go up before Memorial Day weekend. This should be a time when Oklahoma's families take well-deserved vacations, but instead, the high cost of energy is putting a dent in their plans. There has been far too much talk and not enough action on tangible ways to reduce the cost of what American's are paying at the pump. The time for common sense energy policies is long overdue."
"Nancy Pelosi and her liberal allies need to stop stonewalling legislation that will expand the use of American-made energy. We have the resources in this country that can alleviate the skyrocketing costs of fuel and we need to use them. Whether it's drilling in ANWR or off the coasts of Florida and California - these domestic energy sources should be tapped into in short order. We also need to fund and build new oil refineries to process our energy resources."
"But opening up domestic energy sources for exploration is only one piece of the energy puzzle. We should also be promoting innovative and clean sources of energy like clean coal, nuclear energy and wind energy. In fact, France is leaps and bounds ahead of the U.S. for using advanced nuclear energy to power 80 percent of its electricity requirements. Nuclear energy has proven to be a safe and environmentally sound alternative and we should get with the times and look to it to meet more of our energy needs."
"In short, the hallmark of an effective energy policy is that it draws from a broad base of resources. House Republicans have a plan that will expand domestic resources, minimize the impact on the environment, encourage reasonable use of renewable energy and maximize energy through technology and innovation. These common sense policies will have an immediate impact on energy supplies and prices. It's time for Nancy Pelosi to put the interests of American families first and allow our nation to develop and utilize the abundant natural resources we have right here at home."
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