Washington, Jul 16, 2008 -

Congressman Doug Lamborn (CO-05) joined 69 Members of Congress in urging the House of Representatives Speaker, Nancy Pelosi, to immediately schedule votes on urgent legislation to increase American energy supplies.  He co-signed a letter to the Speaker addressing her recent letter to President Bush regarding her request to draw down oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.  The focus of the letter signed by Congressman Lamborn was the severe energy crisis currently confronting all Americans and the critical need to increase domestic energy production immediately.  Congressman Lamborn offered the following statement:

 “As frustrated Americans continue to be drained of their money every day at gas pumps everywhere, the continued fight to increase our energy production rages on.  The refusal by the Democratic Majority to effectively address the severe energy crisis has created a catastrophe, and is prolonging the unnecessary pain that accompanies every trip to the gas pump.” –Congressman Doug Lamborn (CO-05)

 Below is an excerpt from the letter to the Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi:

Dear Madam Speaker:

As you have come to realize, supply really does affect the price consumers pay at the pump, however, we do not share your optimism that releasing “a small portion” of SPR oil would noticeably affect either world oil markets or the price of a gallon of gasoline.  The three prior instances you cited in which drawing down the SPR seemed to alleviate momentary price spikes all involved temporary supply shortages.  That is hardly the case today.  Economists agree that today’s high prices are driven by demand shock, and they also agree that world demand, high as it is today, will only continue growing regardless of what the United States does with the SPR.  Successfully attacking this problem requires a sustained increase in American energy production. 

The letter goes on to request that the following legislation be brought to a vote. Congressman Lamborn is a co-sponsor of all listed below:

• H.R. 6108 - Deep Energy Resources Act of 208
• H.R. 6107 - American Energy Independence and Price Reduction Act
• H.R. 6131 - To provide incentives for the production and use of unconventional aviation fuels
• H.R. 2493 - Boutique Fuel Reduction Act
• H.R. 2208 - Coal Liquid Fuel Act
• H.R. 5656 – To repeal a requirement with respect to the procurement and acquisition of alternative fuels
• H.R. 2279 – To expedite the construction of new refining capacity on closed military installations in the U.S. for other purposes