August 5, 2008 Thornberry Joins Fellow Republicans For Impromptu House Session Print

Calls Recess Major Neglect Of Congressional Responsibilities

Washington, DC – Congressman Mac Thornberry today took to the floor of the House, joined by other Members of the House Republican Conference, to demand a vote on comprehensive domestic energy production legislation.  “To leave and do nothing is just irresponsible to me.  It is a major neglect of one of the primary responsibilities of Congress for the Speaker to recess the House without passing a comprehensive domestic energy production bill,” said Thornberry. 

“Over a year ago I introduced H.R. 3089, “The No More Excuses Energy Act of 2007.”  The bill would encourage more domestic production of all forms of energy; oil, gas, nuclear, and renewables, such as wind.  Since the bill was introduced, a discharge petition has been filed to try to force it to the floor for a vote and it has been proposed as an amendment to a variety of other bills.  But the Speaker has never allowed it to come to a vote because the Speaker is opposed to more domestic energy production, and if a vote were to occur the Speaker’s position would lose, so she’s not going to risk that” noted Thornberry.

“Tying our own hands on energy production is foolish.  We have to untie them or the quality of life for every American is going to suffer, and the only way to untie our hands is to convince the Speaker to call a vote on a comprehensive domestic energy production bill,” concluded Thornberry.

GOP lawmakers began a spontaneous revolt to protest the Democrats’ decision to adjourn the House for the five-week August recess without giving the House a chance to vote on Republican legislation to curb rising gas prices. Even after Democrats turned off the lights and microphones, and with TV cameras shut down, Republicans kept talking to rally public support for more domestic energy production.  Republicans have threatened to keep their uprising going to pressure the Speaker for a vote on comprehensive domestic energy production legislation.

 
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