The Hill Report: Week of September 8 - 12, 2008

Statement

This week in Washington, Congress reconvened from the August district work period, and I shared in the hopes of many that bipartisan cooperation would overcome partisan agendas and that my friends in the Democratic Majority would finally allow a fair and balanced debate on energy legislation.

The American people are fed up with politics as usual, and the high energy prices at the gas pump and on utility bills are visual and fiscal reminders of the price of inaction. Energy security is central to both economic and national security. As a nation, we must champion American-made energy with responsible drilling and clean, renewable energy development.

On Monday, I joined House Republican Leadership and Members for a press conference on the Capitol steps to conclude the historic five-week energy protest on the House floor and to call on House Democrats to allow a vote on the American Energy Act (H.R. 6566), a comprehensive energy approach to increase supply, reduce demand and free our nation from dependence on foreign oil.

While Speaker Nancy Pelosi used the August recess to promote her own book sales, my colleagues and I stood on the House floor to protest Congress' inexcusable failure to address our nation's energy crisis. As energy prices skyrocket and deflate according to market demands and global events, now more than ever Americans understand that our nation's dependence on foreign oil threatens to disrupt family budgets and the American economy at any moment.

Each work day from August 1 - September 5, 2008, House Republicans protested Congress' failure to allow an up-or-down vote on American-made energy, utilizing tag-team efforts to allow Members to balance District work commitments and energy vote advocacy. My colleagues and I have continued our call for an up-or-down vote on the American Energy Act (H.R. 6566) that provides an "all-of-the-above" American energy solution:

1. Increase production of American-made energy through responsible drilling in Alaska and the Outer Continental Shelf, which contain enough supply for America's energy needs for over two centuries.

2. Promote cleaner and reliable sources of energy like nuclear, geothermal, clean coal, wind power, and hydroelectric power.

3. Cut red tape and increase American-made energy supplies by removing bureaucratic barriers to oil recovery projects and responsible oil refinery construction.

4. Encourage greater energy efficiency through tax incentives for home and building energy efficiency upgrades, solar and fuel cell credits, and fiber-optic distributed sunlight investment credit.

Unfortunately for the American people, Speaker Pelosi and House Democrats failed to bring any energy solutions to the House floor this week—instead opting to vote on legislation to study a wild and scenic river designation and other non-essential bills. I once again urge the Majority in Congress to put aside personal political agendas and join my colleagues and me in supporting American energy solutions that will help bring down volatile energy prices and promote real energy independence.

Paying Tribute to the Heroes of September 11, 2001
On Thursday I joined with my colleagues and millions around the nation in honoring and remembering the heroes from the tragedies of September 11, 2001. Seven years later, the United States and the world still mourns the loss and honors the memory of those who were killed in the attacks.

The House of Representatives passed a Resolution (H. Res. 1420) on Thursday afternoon honoring the victims of the terrorist attacks launched against the United States. At the Pentagon, President Bush, former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, members and leaders from our country's armed services, friends and family members of 9/11 victims, and many other Americans gathered to dedicate a memorial to the victims of the attack on the Pentagon. At the site of the World Trade Center memorial in New York City and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, similar ceremonies took place to pay tribute to those who died.

As Americans reflected on this solemn day in their own way, we remember that freedom isn't free and that our Armed Forces continue to fight the War on Terror in Afghanistan and other locations around the globe. Thanks to the dedicated men and women of our military, law enforcement and intelligence branches, our nation has not experienced another terrorist attack since 9/11. But this security is not for lack of terrorists trying to attack us. We must remain vigilant, honoring the past and looking to the future to ensure a secure, strong, and successful America.

Have a good weekend.

Source