[Page H6479]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      ACTIONS TO REDUCE GAS PRICES

  (Ms. SPEIER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, despite what Senator McCain's top economic 
adviser believes, Americans are not whining when they express concern 
about today's economy. With two oil men in the White House, gas prices 
have nearly tripled and Big Oil's profits have skyrocketed. The 
President's action to lift the offshore drilling ban does nothing to 
lower gas prices now. In fact, his own Energy Information 
Administration says it will not affect gas prices for nearly 20 years, 
and even then it will only drop the cost of a gallon of gas by two 
pennies.
  Mr. Speaker, Americans are hurting now and cannot wait 20 years. 
That's why House Democrats continue to urge the President to release 
our oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, an action that is not new 
nor untested and has proven to reduce prices at the pump immediately.
  Additionally, I would like us to consider setting a national speed 
limit at 60 miles per hour. That would reduce the cost of gas by 30 
cents a gallon.

                          ____________________