Three years after Republicans adopted their energy policy, gas prices continue to hit record highs each week, straining the budgets of Americans also contending with a weak economy.  In response, Democrats have taken action to help lower gas prices. 

 

Last year, Democrats passed a landmark energy bill to move our nation away from its dependency on foreign oil.  This year, we have taken both short and long-term actions to reduce oil prices.  We temporarily suspended deliveries of oil to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to increase our oil supply and help bring down gas prices.  The House has also passed measures reducing fares for mass transit, and directing the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to investigate and punish oil speculators.  Rather than working with us, the President has threatened to veto important bills that would hold OPEC accountable for price fixing, crack down on price gouging, and extend tax incentives to encourage investment in renewable energy.  Other efforts have been blocked by Republicans, including "use it or lose it" legislation that would require oil companies to drill on the 68 million acres of land for which they have leases, or lose those leases. 

 

Despite Republican resistance to our efforts to create a energy policy that works today and in the future, Democrats will bring new energy legislation to the House Floor in the coming days.  This package focuses on increasing domestic supply with provisions to increase drilling in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska, reconstitute a ban on the export of Alaskan oil to foreign nations, and call on the President to expedite construction of natural gas and oil pipelines from Alaska. 

 

Also this week, the Senate passed the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act with a veto-proof margin, after it passd the House on June 24 with overwhelming bipartisan support.  This is a huge victory for America's seniors and military families who are being held hostage by looming cuts to Medicare, and  I hope President Bush will reconsider his veto threat.  If he does not, the House will act quickly to override his veto.  

 

Majority Leader Hoyer Statement on Upcoming Energy Legislation
On Thursday, Hoyer spoke about an energy package being designed to help lower gas prices that will be on the House Floor soon.
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Read about action already taken by Democrats to help lower gas prices 

Watch Hoyer speak on the House Floor on energy and gas prices

Majority Leader Hoyer Urges President Bush to Reconsider Veto Threat on Medicare Bill
Following Senate passage of the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act on Wednesday, which the House passed overwhelmingly on June 24, Hoyer urged the President to drop his ill-advised veto threats and stand with Democrats and Republicans to protect our nation's seniors from cuts in Medicare.
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Hoyer Statement on McCain Advisor Calling Americans Hit by Weak Economy “Nation of Whiners”
Hoyer responded to comments made by John McCain's top economic advisor yesterday, pointing out that $4.11 for a gallon of gas and 8.5 million unemployed Americans are a real recession - not the 'mental recession' that former Senator Phil Gramm claims.
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