Republicans Continue to Fight for Energy Legislation!

House Republicans continue to demand a vote on the American Energy Act.  Members will be on the House Floor and Capitol grounds today, speaking to the American people in the gallery and calling on Speaker Pelosi to bring Congress back into session so Members can vote on proposals that will increase American-made energy.  The Policy Committee blog will be updated by staff as events warrant. 

The day's proceedings ended at 4:19 pm as Members and crowd sang "God Bless America."

4:13 - Rep. Tim Walberg quoted Daniel Webster, "Let us develop the resources of our land, call forth its powers, build up its institutions, promote all its great interests, and see whether we also, in our day and generation, may not perform something worthy to be remembered." He said, "Madam Speaker, let my people vote."  (The crowd then chanted "Vote! Vote! Vote!")

4:05 - Rep. Marilyn Musgrave spoke of an 83 year-old widow in Colorado who, in the winter, heats her home with propane.  She is thinking about spending 700 dollars now before the price goes up later this winter.  Ms. Musgrave went on to say the speaker is worth millions and she may not understand how this affects average, everyday people.

3:57 - Rep. Louie Gohmert:  "Last week someone in power cut off the power, but she cannot cut off the American spirit!"  "When Democrats say all we talk about is drilling, its clear they haven't read the Energy Independence Act." 

3:53 - Rep. Jeb Hensarling:  "This is about 2 issues:  In the greatest democracy man has ever known, should there be a vote on energy policy? (Crowd responded YES).  Regarding high gas prices at the pump, does supply make a difference? (Again, crowd responded a resounding YES)."

3:49 - Rep. Steve King:  "China has increased their gas imports by 2,000 percent this year."

3:28 - Rep. Wally Herger:  "I'm not just fighting for my constituents. I'm fighting for all Americans.  I'm fighting for our National Security."

2:53 - Rep. Phil Gingrey:  "This is not a partisan issue. Seventy-five percent of Americans support increased drilling... Madam Speaker, why don't you call the Congress back?  We can't be wasting time. Why isn't Speaker Pelosi here?  If you've been reading the papers, you know she is on a tour promoting a book."

2:47 - Rep. Mike Pence:  "We're here because the American people are hurting."

2:31 - Rep. Jeb Hensarling:  "More American energy now!  Where is Speaker Pelosi? If the American people are being forced to cancel their vacations, don't you think Nancy Pelosi and Congress should cancel theirs?"

2:25 - Rep. Mark Kirk:   "You are attending the ultimate town hall meeting...What you are seeing today is the People's House, first session, day two.  You are witnessing an historic time. It is time to put a bill both Senators McCain and Obama both agree on to a vote."

2:02 - Rep. Duncan Hunter:  "Our armed forces are deployed to many unfriendly parts of the world due to our dependence on foreign oil. We have Navy warships patrolling the straits of Hormuth. Chavez and Ahmadinejad are using oil and energy as leverage against the US.  We spend 11 billion dollars on fuel (up from 3 billion in a few years) that could be used to improve the quality of life for veterans.  To accomplish Peace through strength, we need to end our dependence on foreign oil.  If we don't lead the free world, the free world will have no leader, but we can't lead while we're being held back by our dependence on foreign oil.  We can't fuel a HUMVEE or a tank with wind power.  China is out-building us 3-1 in submarines; they're outbuilding us in military aircraft; they've also locked up drilling sites in Cuba located less than 100 miles from our shores.  We're winning in Iraq - attacks are down 80 percent; we're winning through perserverance and strength, and our strength depends on energy."

1:58 - Rep. Peter Roskam:  "This is a tipping point in the debate on energy. We need to bust loose from the shackles that are slowing our economy down."

1:52 - Rep. Mike Pence:  "I've never seen a better looking House of Representatives."  "What happened on Friday was rare, what's happening this week is unprecedented. Congress should be working on a comprehensive energy policy to solve the modern energy crisis."

1:37 - Rep. Louie Gohmert:  "The Members taking a stand here are not heroes, heroes are the men and women of our armed forces serving in Iraq and afghanistan. We're just spokesmen for people struggling with energy costs."  "This 10-20 year claim is nonsense. There's a pipeline 74 miles from the small area known as ANWR, we'll have it within 2 years."

1:03 - House Republicans ceremoniously left for press conference.

12:54  - Rep. Tim Walberg:  "Truckers are suffering. I come from MI, the motor capital of the world. Our governor on her weekly radio program says she's riding a bike to and from the state capital every day, and she's making her security detail do the same. That is not a great image for the governor of the motor capital of the world. Madam Speaker, let my people have a vote."

12:43 - Rep. Marsha Blackburn spoke about HR6 and how many times gas, oil, common sense were mentioned versus "lightbulb."  As she held up a red gas can, she says, "This gas can is as empty as the Democrats plan."

12:29 - Rep. Jeb Hensarling:  "There are more important people here today than the Speaker: The American People."   "I try to read as many messages from my constituents as possible. If families can't afford to go on vacation, Pelosi shouldn't adjourn to go on a 5 week paid vacation."  "What has been the Speaker's approach? Sue OPEC. Tax Oil Companies. We don't need to tax and sue, we need to produce more energy in America today."

12:20 - Rep. Roskam:   "Imagine lowering gas prices, creating jobs; the Speaker and Congress getting together with the President and saying, 'Hey, we're going to do this.'
When we were colonies of England, and were threatened with the stamp act, when anything involved in commerce will be taxed. Like that, the energy issue brings us all together."

12:13 – Rep. Rob Wittman:   “We need to make sure we get the job done.  We’ve got to get everyone here in Congress to debate.  We need Speaker Pelosi to allow a vote…Why aren’t we bringing all of our ingenuity, all of our resources to the table?  We have the ability, we have the desire to solve the problems of America.”

12:05 pm - Rep. Steve King:  "We want more energy of all kinds.  But according to some, we can't have solar because we might offend someone who lives in the desert. We can't have windmills if Ted Kennedy and John Kerry can see them. No geothermal and offshore drill rigs, because they're unsightly. The Speaker wants to save the planet, well how do you save the planet by forbidding the most environmentally friendly country in the world to drill when other, less environmentally friendly coutries will drill and ship the oil here?"

11:50 - Rep. Mike Pence:  "The American people won't get a break from high gasoline prices; Congress shouldn't get a 5 week paid vacation. American people need action, not more talk."  "Regarding the impact on today's prices, when the president lifted the executive order against offshore drilling, the price of oil had the biggest single day drop in 20 years. If Congress acted, the impact on oil futures would be immediate."
 

11:45 - Rep. John Kline:  "There are Republicans, Democrats and independents in this room. All of you deserve a vote. This time of year there are a number of parades in Minnesota, and the question I'm asked most often is 'what is congress doing about the price of gas?' The answer is nothing. We've been saying for weeks, months that Republicans support an 'all of the above' approach. We can conserve, explore wind, solar, biomass, nuclear...all of it." 

11:40 - Rep. Mike Conaway:  "If we don't do any more drilling, we are swapping money that could be going to Americans with Hugo Chavez...We might as well be using American oil and natural gas instead of foreign oil and natural gas.

11:34 - Rep. Jim Jordan:  "We can't even get a vote to get more energy for America...we need to drill more. The American people get it."

11:27 - Rep. Ron Lewis:  "Americans, American workers, this is a call to action. How many millions of jobs have we lost this year? I think about the United Auto workers, I think about Ford, GM, Chrysler. Some of these car companies will go out of business. What about mine workers unable to mine for coal, and transform it into liquid. And how about teamsters with their trucks just parked because of the cost of gas and diesel fuel. Americans, this is a call to action, let your representatives hear your voices."

11:13 - Rep. Phil Gingrey:  "There are a lot of people who would like to be in Washington for this debate, but couldn't afford to travel because of the cost of gas.  The Democratic majority forced a motion to adjourn even though there were 75-80 members signed up to speak, but were not allowed to; many of them decided to stick around on Friday anyway."

11:06 - Rep. Wally Herger:  "Some farmers in northern California are paying 5 dollars a gallon for diesel. They deserve debate, they deserve a vote on the House floor."

10:50 - Rep. Frank Wolf said, "The U.S. doesn't allow environmentally responsible drilling, but Cuba, which is 90 miles off the coast, has granted a lease to China to drill for oil. China- with at least 35 Catholic bishops imprisoned. China- that has been spying on us. China- that's responsible for the genocide in Darfur. All the oil from Khartoum is going to China, with all their human rights violations."

Rep. Gresham Barrett:  "This is the people's House and the people want a voice in this debate. Get on the phone and tell your Representatives you want a vote in the people's house."

Rep. Don Manzullo: “ Don’t you want your voice heard?  Join with us and say, 'The time is NOW!' and take a stand against this group of elitists.”  He went on to recognize a farming family from his district who had come from Illinois to visit the House.  “This could be America’s greatest hour.  Insist that we have the right to vote for America’s freedom!”  Mr. Manzullo also quoted John Quincy Adams who said, "Am I gagged or am I not?" in response to Speaker James Polk refusing to allow debate on the House Floor.

Rep. Wally Herger: "We deserve better. We deserve a debate!  We deserve a vote on the House floor!"

10:48 - Rep. Marilyn Musgrave said, "There are congregations of about 50 people who have to cancel services because they can't afford their energy bills to cool the church in the summer and heat it in the winter."

10:32 -  Rep. Tom Cole took the House Floor.  When the lights came on at 10:36, Cole said, "My God, there's been a surge in power. Someone must be drilling somewhere...probably in Oklahoma."  He continued,  "The oil might not flow for a year or two, but the jobs will start immediately."  Cole rightly stated, "Right now, this House is an obstacle, not a platform." 

10:20 - Lynn Westmoreland quoted Speaker Pelosi as saying "the minority needs to use imagination." He said, "That's what we're doing."

10:17 - Mike Pence demands an up or down vote.  He introduces a petition available online at http://www.gop.gov/

10:14 - Tom Price leads the Pledge of Allegiance

10:12 - Gresham Barrett gives the opening prayer

10:10 - Tom Price opens proceedings

As of now, Members in attendence are:   Pence, Price, Blackburn, Gingrey, Westmoreland, Musgrave, Herger, Wolf, Manzullo, Barrett, Cole, Turner, S. King, Conaway, Jordan, Culberson, Kline, Wittman, R. Lewis, Roskam, and Walberg.   

Currently, there are 17 reporters in the House Press Gallery.