It is important that we take action to lower home-heating costs. Since 2001, home heating expenditures, on average, have more than doubled. This coming winter, heating costs are expected to reach record levels once again, for the fourth time over the last five years. Users of natural gas, which is used in more than half of the nation's homes, will see an 18 percent increase in home heating costs, paying $1,010 on average, $155 more than last year.  Those who use electricity to heat homes will see about a 10 percent increase, on average, and those who use propane will see an 11 percent increase. 

H.R. 2638, the Continuing Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2008, enacted into law Sept. 30, included $5.1 billion for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). The recently enacted spending law will provide Low-Income Home Energy Assistance to an additional two million households and increase the average grant from $355 to $550.

It is also important to address the issue of skyrocketing gas prices. There is a misconception that simply increasing production by allowing more drilling is going to magically lower gas prices. However, since 2000, the amount of drilling has increased dramatically and exploded over the past four years. In fact, since 2003, the federal government has issued far more drilling permits than the oil companies have acted on. Nearly 80 percent of offshore oil is in areas that are already open for exploration. We have to enact legislation to force oil companies to drill on the more than million acres of land that they have leased, yet remain unused.

This December, Congress enacted, H.R. 6, the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. This comprehensive legislation would take steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, encourage environmental-efficient transportation initiatives as well as invest in new energy technologies and innovation to create new jobs and improve overall energy efficiency for our nation.

Additionally, the House has passed the following pieces of legislation to lower energy costs, crack down on price gouging by oil companies, reduce our dependency on foreign oil and promote overall energy efficiency, all of which I am proud to have voted for:

H.R. 1252, Price Gouging Prevention Act

Sets criminal penalties for price gouging of gasoline, and permits states to bring lawsuits against wholesalers or retailers who engage in such practices. (Passed the House May 23, 2007 by a vote of 284-141). 

H.R. 1424, the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act

The Financial Rescue Package also expands tax incentives for renewable energy and energy efficiency, creating hundreds of thousands of green jobs; and also extends key tax relief provisions for working families, including the college tuition deduction, state and local sales tax deduction, and property tax relief; and for businesses, including the Research and Development tax credit. (Signed into law Oct. 2, 2008). 

H.R. 2264, No Oil Producing and Exporting Cartels Act (NOPEC)

Authorizes the Justice Department to take legal action against OPEC state-controlled entities that participate in conspiracies to limit the supply, or fix the price of oil. (Passed the House June 26, 2008 by a vote of 345-72).

H.R. 6049, Energy Improvement and Extension Act

Expands tax incentives for renewable energy and energy efficiency, creating hundreds of thousands of green jobs; and also extends key tax relief provisions for working families, including the college tuition deduction, state and local sales tax deduction, and property tax relief; and for businesses, including the R&D tax credit. (Passed the House May 21, 2008 by a vote of 263-160).

H.R. 6052, Saving Energy Through Public Transportation Act

Reduces fares for public transit to give consumers a cost-effective alternative to $4-per-gallon gasoline and expands service through grants to transit agencies (Passed the House June 26, 2008 by a vote of 322-98).

H.R. 6604, the Commodity Market Transparency and Accountability Act

Takes common sense steps to curb excessive speculation in the energy futures markets, which is driving up gas prices, includes closing the Enron loophole and bringing much-needed transparency to commodities and futures markets. (Passed the House by a vote of Sept. 18, 2008 by a vote of 283-133).

H.R. 6074, Gas Price Relief for Consumers Act

Combats record gas prices by authorizing lawsuits against oil cartel members for oil price fixing, creates an Antitrust Task Force to crack down on oil companies engaged in anticompetitive behavior or market manipulation. (Passed the House May 20, 2008 by a vote of 324-84).

H.R. 6899, Comprehensive American Energy Security and Consumer Protection Act

Lowers costs to consumers and protects taxpayers by releasing oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and repealing tax breaks for Big Oil; creates a Renewable Energy Reserve to invest in clean, renewable energy resources and extends and expands tax incentives for renewable energy; expands domestic energy supply including a responsible compromise on expanded drilling in the OCS; and makes investments in greater energy efficiency and conservation. (Passed the House Sept. 18, 2008 by a vote of 236-189).