• “The Democrats’ capitulation is a victory for middle-class Americans who have suffered under the crushing burden of high gas prices. After a long summer of $4 gas, with winter home heating bills on the way, this good news could not have come too soon.”

WASHINGTON – Congressman Adam Putnam, Chairman of the House Republican Conference, issued the following statement tonight based on news reports (AP and Roll Call) that House Democrats would cede to months of intense Republican pressure and allow the American offshore energy exploration ban to expire next week:

“The Democrats’ capitulation is a victory for middle-class Americans who have suffered under the crushing burden of high gas prices. After a long summer of $4 gas, with winter home heating bills on the way, this good news could not have come too soon.

“For years, House Republicans have fought tooth-and-nail to increase the supply of all forms of American-made energy, even when gas cost $2 a gallon and no one knew what a Prius was. Democrats opposed us at every turn. Two years ago Speaker Pelosi promised the American people a ‘commonsense plan to help bring down skyrocketing gas prices,’ yet she watched America become a nation of $4 gas and did nothing.

“And when the Democrats who control Congress went on a five-week vacation in August after refusing to address high gas prices, House Republicans stayed and worked to call attention to the pain middle-class families were feeling and the need for a comprehensive, ‘all-of-the-above’ solution.

“While this is certainly good news for the American people, our work is not yet done. As Republicans have said throughout, there is no one silver bullet to our energy crisis. On behalf of the American people, House Republicans renew our call for an ‘all-of-the-above’ energy strategy that expands energy conservation, promotes renewable and alternative energy technologies and increases the supply of all forms of American energy. A simple up-or-down vote on the American Energy Act is all it will take to advance a truly comprehensive energy policy.

“As we continue this critical debate, American families will not forget how, and for how long, Democrats stood between them, lower gas prices, and less dependence on foreign countries for the lifeblood of our economy.”