Congress Should Not Adjourn Without Energy Vote

Press Release

Congress Should Not Adjourn Without Energy Vote: Congressman Calls On President Bush To Hold Special Session Of Congress

U.S. Congressman Tim Walberg (R-MI) this afternoon made the following statement about Democrat plans to adjourn the House tonight or Friday morning without debating on or voting to address America's current energy crisis. Congressman Walberg voted against an adjournment resolution yesterday that provided for Congressional adjournment for five weeks. The vote passed 213-212 (Roll Call 537).

"Just yesterday a bi-partisan group in this Congress introduced legislation that would lift most restrictions on offshore drilling and encourage the development of alternative energy sources," Walberg said. "Members of Congress, on both sides of the aisle, are coming together to work on real energy solutions."

On Wednesday, a bi-partisan group of legislators unveiled a new energy plan. Read more here.

"Yet, within the next 24 hours, leadership in this Congress will pack its bags and head off for a five week vacation. If Speaker Pelosi and other leaders in Congress are unwilling to stick around and work on a comprehensive energy plan, President Bush should call a special session of Congress," Walberg said.

According to Article II, Section 3 of the United States Constitution, the President has the power "on extraordinary occasions" to convene the Congress.

"High gas prices demand action, and right now the American people are being let down by Congressional leadership," Walberg said. "We need to put all energy options on the table. More drilling, more alternatives, more conservation…this Congress needs to get serious and work on a comprehensive plan that includes all of the above and ends our dependence on Middle East oil."

Walberg introduced a discharge petition in June to bring the No More Excuses Energy Act, legislation to increase U.S. energy production and invest in alternative sources of energy, to the House floor for a vote. House rules state that a discharge petition must have 218 signatures (a simple majority) in order to bring a bill to the floor for a vote. 154 members have signed the petition so far.

The No More Excuses Energy Act (H.R. 3089):
- Encourages new refinery construction and makes federal lands available for refinery construction.
- Reduces green house emissions by encouraging the capture of CO2 from marginal oil wells.
- Boosts alternative energy development by extending the Wind Production Tax Credit for 10 years.
- Lifts the Congressional Moratoria on exploring the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), potentially providing 17 billion barrels of oil.
- Opens the ANWR to responsible exploration, potentially producing nearly a million barrels per day for several decades.
- Encourages investment in a much-needed industrial base for building modern nuclear power plants.

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