Crenshaw Calls for Long Term Energy Solutions
Congressman Votes Against Making America Susceptible To National Security Risks for Political Points
July 24, 2008
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a 268 – 157 vote, the Consumer Energy Supply Act of 2008 (H.R. 6578) was considered by the House and failed to receive the necessary votes for passage. The measure, brought to the floor by House Democrats, would have siphoned 70 million barrels from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) into the general domestic supply. The failed legislation called on the Department of Energy to “swap out” a significant portion of its higher-quality light crude oil, and eventually replace it with heavier, harder-to-refine oil.
Rep. Crenshaw said, “Instead of taking us closer to real energy independence, this move makes us more energy dependent and exposed to OPEC’s push and pull.”
The amount that was sought to be removed from the SPR, represented roughly 10% of the 709 million barrels stored in SPR, which is held in reserve, specifically in case of a national commercial supply crisis. The last time any significant amount of oil was removed from the SPR was in September 2005 when only 11 million barrels were sold off to counter the immediate impact of Hurricane Katrina.
“We must take action to provide relief for millions of Americans who are being drained every time they go to the pump, but we should do so in a way that will not jeopardize our economic and national security. The SPR was designed to protect Americans from a short-term, fuel supply crisis, not to be used as a political, election year stunt, intended to make taxpayers feel that real energy solutions are being pursued.”
The SPR was implemented as a direct response to the oil embargo in 1973 – 1974, when OPEC first organized and began to regulate the price of oil globally. Immediately following the global energy crisis, worldwide oil prices shot to record highs.
“While I fully agree that we need to pass energy legislation – the American people are longing for real solutions, not a temporary band-aide when a tourniquet is required to stop the hemorrhaging,” added Crenshaw.
“It’s time that we stop playing games with the American people, put politics aside, and actually do something that will help hurting families. Americans are tired of political stunts. They want real solutions, and they want them now. This vote will do little now, and even less in the future to put money back into the pockets of Americans.”
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