Rogers Urges Congress To Take Up Comprehensive Energy, Gas Bill

Press Release

Congressman Harold "Hal" Rogers (KY-05) today joined 84 Members of Congress in introducing comprehensive legislation to combat soaring energy and gas prices and create a stable, long-term domestic source of affordable energy for working families, seniors and veterans in Southern and Eastern Kentucky. H.R. 6566, the American Energy Act takes an "all-of-the-above" approach to reducing and stabilizing energy prices by increasing the supply of American-made energy, improving conservation and efficiency, and promoting renewable and alternative energy technologies.

"No one contends that solving our energy problem will be easy, but doing nothing keeps us beholden to foreign oil cartels and the price of gas outrageously high. The American Energy Act is a bold opportunity for the Congress and Speaker Nancy Pelosi to answer the call of the American people and put forward real energy solutions," stated Rogers. "Taking a multi-pronged approach that increases the supply of American-made energy, while investing in conservation and alternative energy projects, will reduce costs in the short-term as we fine tune new technologies to provide a stable, long-term source of affordable and environmentally-friendly energy."

The American Energy Act is the latest in a series of legislative initiatives supported and cosponsored by Rogers to bring down the price of gasoline and invest in alternative fuels. Passage of this bill will increase the supply of American-made energy through increased oil and natural gas production in the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) and Alaska's coastal plain, the development of oil shale resources and coal-to-liquids, and the elimination of bureaucratic red tape that hinders the construction of U.S. oil refineries. In addition, the legislation provides monetary and government-backed incentives for conservation, including tax breaks for fuel-efficient vehicles and energy-efficient homes and businesses. Finally, H.R. 6566 establishes a renewable energy trust fund from revenues generated by domestic oil exploration and development and permanently extends tax incentives for wind, solar and hydrogen energy generation.

Rogers will continue to press Speaker Pelosi to bring forward legislative measures to reduce the price of gasoline for the American public and urge the President to work with Congress to increase the production of American energy.

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