Do-Nothing Congress Failing the American People

DO-NOTHING CONGRESS FAILING THE AMERICAN PEOPLE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, the Do-Nothing Congress of 1948 is about to be replaced as the most ineffective Congress in recent times. Today, just as in 1948, the American people are looking to Congress to tackle some very important issues: The war in Iraq, rising gas prices, rising college and health care costs, the economic uncertainty resulting from the outsourcing of high-paying American jobs, and a record deficit that continues to spiral out of control.

There is so much that this Congress could be working on right now, but House Republicans refuse to address any of these concerns. In fact, it is difficult to address the concerns of the American people when Congress is never in session.

I am sure the American people will be shocked to hear that this is only the 36th day the House is scheduled to hold votes this year. With only 57 scheduled voting days until adjournment, the House is now on track to meet 15 days less than the first Do-Nothing Congress of 1948. And it is no wonder the American people are so disgusted with Congress.

Mr. Speaker, the House Republican majority is simply out of new ideas. Any time that a crisis hits, they throw out the same old ideas that haven't worked for them in the past and will not work for them in the future. And let me give you a case in point. This week, House Republicans say they are finally ready to address the record gas prices Americans have been forced to pay every time they go to the gas station. So what is the new idea House Republicans will bring to the floor this week? Drilling in the Alaska wilderness, the area known as the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Well, that sounds familiar. That's right. You've heard it before. It's nothing new. And it will do absolutely nothing to help American consumers with the pain they now face at the pump. In fact, they wouldn't even be able to start drilling for oil out in this Alaska wilderness until a decade after Congress gives its approval. Worse yet, ANWR only holds enough oil to provide 6 months of oil to the American consumer. This is simply not an energy solution. It is the same old idea.

So then why do Washington Republicans choose to ignore the problem? Could it be that they have built such a cozy relationship with the CEOs of Big Oil that they are simply unwilling to break these bonds? Let's not forget that with two oil men in the White House and a rubber-stamp Republican Congress always ready to back them up, big oil companies have seen their profits quadruple in the past 4 years. At the same time the price of gasoline has doubled and our dependence on foreign oil has increased substantially.

As American families struggle to deal with falling wages and rising prices at the pump, the Republicans in this body continue to deliver billions of dollars in tax breaks to big oil companies.

Mr. Speaker, it is no wonder the American people are demanding change. They want results, and they aren't getting them from this Republican majority.

Unlike our Republican colleagues, House Democrats have offered some innovative and new ideas that are worth exploring. Last week, the Democratic Rural Working Group unveiled its ambitious plan to reduce our dependence on foreign petroleum and promote the production and use of clean renewable energy here at home. In other words, promote the production and use of clean renewable energy here at home so we are not so dependent on foreign oil.

Our proposal, the Democratic proposal, provides tax incentives to encourage increased biofuels production, expands the ethanol and biodiesel pumps at gas stations, and increases the number of flex fuel vehicles on the road.

The Democrats have also introduced legislation that would rescind the tax breaks to big oil companies. At a time when they are breaking record profits every quarter, why should the Federal Government hand out tax breaks to these companies? We shouldn't. It is simply not fair.

As Americans prepare to travel this weekend for the Memorial Day holiday, they should know that Democrats are offering real solutions to high gas prices to protect the American consumer, not Big Oil.

Mr. Speaker, the American people are fed up with the Republican Do-Nothing Congress and are demanding change here in Washington, something that Republicans simply cannot deliver. It is time for fresh ideas. It is time for Democrats to take control of this House so that the needs of all Americans are once again addressed on this House floor rather than just the corporate interests such as Big Oil.

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