House Could Consider Energy Legislation Next Week
By: Administrative Account | Source: CNSNews.com
April 27, 2006 6:09AM EST

By Melanie Hunter
CNSNews.com Senior Editor
April 26, 2006

(CNSNews.com) - House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) said Wednesday legislation designed to address high energy prices could come to the House floor as soon as next week, including a bill to open up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for oil drilling.

Other measures likely to reach the floor include a bill to address price gouging, which would impose federal civil penalties for violations, and one to limit boutique fuels, which has resulted in higher gas prices for consumers, he said.

"American consumers are taking a hard hit with current gas prices. House Republicans have acted aggressively, passing legislation to diversify our oil supplies, ease the construction of new refineries and criminalize price gouging," said Hastert.

"But we want to do more. Rising gas prices have many American families wondering if they can even afford that vacation with the kids this year, and that is just not right," he said.

Hastert has asked Rep. Adam Putnam (R-Fla.), chairman of the Republican Policy Committee, to spearhead an effort to work with committee chairmen to approve other legislative remedies.

In addition, the House will consider an initiative to explore hydrogen energy, which can be produced from virtually any energy source, is virtually emission-free and has the potential to be a nearly limitless fuel, Hastert said.

"We know our families are hurting, and we are committed to doing what we can to ease the pain," he said.

But Democrats have stood in the way of the energy solutions Republicans have offered, Hastert said, adding that he hopes House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and other Democratic leaders "can put the welfare of the American people over their usual partisan games."

Subscribe to the free CNSNews.com daily E-brief.

E-mail a comment or news tip to Melanie Hunter.

Send a Letter to the Editor about this article.