House Proceeding 05-13-08 on May 13th, 2008 :: 0:24:11 to 0:27:38
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0:16:24 to 0:24:11( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Joe Barton

0:23:59 to 0:24:11( Edit History Discussion )

Joe Barton: bill that apparently was drafted in majority leader hoyer's office late last night or early this morning that several members have put their names on and we are on a suspension calendar

0:24:11 to 0:24:29( Edit History Discussion )

Peter Welch: that we have no ability to amend it or do anything about it except vote yes or no. so i'm going to encourage members to vote no. if we were somehow to get 146 no votes, then we could have the

0:24:11 to 0:27:38( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Peter Welch

0:24:29 to 0:24:43( Edit History Discussion )

Peter Welch: debate and have the markup process that i have asked about and we could come back and next week some time and do it the right way. with that, mr. speaker, i ask unanimous consent to put my

0:24:43 to 0:24:55( Edit History Discussion )

Peter Welch: formal remarks into the record and i reserve the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempe: without objection, so ordered. the gentleman reserves the balance of his time. the gentleman from

0:24:55 to 0:25:09( Edit History Discussion )

Peter Welch: michigan is recognized. mr. dingell: i ask unanimous consent at this time that the ntleman from vermont, mr. welch, be permitted to control the remainder of the time on this side. the speaker

0:25:09 to 0:25:28( Edit History Discussion )

Peter Welch: pro tempore: without objection, so ordered. mr. welch: mr. speaker, i yield myself such time as i may consume. first i want to thank chairman dingell for his leadership on energy issues and for

0:25:28 to 0:25:40( Edit History Discussion )

Peter Welch: assisting and bringing this legislation to the floor for consideration by the full house. i want to answer a couple of questions -- observations by my friend from texas. number one, the revenues

0:25:40 to 0:25:57( Edit History Discussion )

Peter Welch: that would be generated from drilling on federal lands would go into the treasury. and there are many uses and debates that can be had about whether that money ultimately should go into

0:25:57 to 0:26:13( Edit History Discussion )

Peter Welch: alternative energy. whether it should go into liheap. those will be had in due course as part of other legislation. the question that we have before us today is whether or not taking a small

0:26:13 to 0:26:23( Edit History Discussion )

Peter Welch: step that in the past has been taken by this president bush, by his father, by president clinton that when it has been taken has proven to actually have a direct and immediate impact on

0:26:23 to 0:26:37( Edit History Discussion )

Peter Welch: lowering the price of gas at the pump. from five cents to 25 cents a gallon. all of us know we are going home every weekend and we are hearing from our constituents. it doesn't matter what district

0:26:37 to 0:26:55( Edit History Discussion )

Peter Welch: we are in. it doesn't matter what part of the country we are from. folks are really feeling burdened by these ever-escalating home energy heating bills and the cost of filling up their pickup truck

0:26:55 to 0:27:11( Edit History Discussion )

Peter Welch: and their car. basically the question for us is whether or not even as we have to proceed with long-term debates about our future energy licy, this congress is going to be willing to take a

0:27:11 to 0:27:23( Edit History Discussion )

Peter Welch: short-term step that has the potential to bring down energy prices. you know, we -- we could go out and clap, but i actually think this will be more effective. history tells us that in 235c9

0:27:23 to 0:27:38( Edit History Discussion )

Peter Welch: when we have used the -- in fact when we have used the strategic petroleum reserve as an asset belonging to the american people and suspended purchases -- incidentally this strategic petroleum

0:27:38 to 0:27:50( Edit History Discussion )

Joe Barton: reserve is nearly full. we are talking about topping it off. it's very expensive to do so now with $126 per barrel oil. that when we have done it in the past it's actually reduced that pump

0:27:38 to 0:30:37( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Joe Barton