Democrats’ SPRO Bill Another Ploy by Democratic Leaders to Run Out the Clock on Lower Gas Prices

Congressman John Boehner
July 24, 2008

Congressman John Boehner (R-West Chester) today criticized Democratic leaders for bringing yet another bill to the House floor that will not produce any new American energy to help lower gas prices. The measure, falsely dubbed the Consumer Energy Supply Act (H.R. 6578), would simply replace 70 million barrels of light, sweet crude oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve with heavy, sour crude oil that is more difficult to refine into gasoline in case of a national security emergency. Boehner issued the following statement:

With just days remaining before a five-week August recess, Democratic leaders are irresponsibly putting another bill on the House floor masquerading as a real energy plan. The American people know better. They support new American-made energy to help lower gas prices, but this bill does not offer a single drop of new American oil or gas. Its little more than a three-and-a-half day solution to a year-round problem for American families and small businesses not to mention another ploy by Democratic leaders to run out the clock and avoid a real vote on more American energy and lower gas prices.

Yesterday, House Republicans introduced the American Energy Act to increase American-made energy and help lower gas prices, and a solid majority of the American people and a bipartisan majority in Congress will support it. The measure encourages more conservation and efficiency, promotes the use of alternative fuels, and increases environmentally-responsible production of American energy all to help bring down the price at the pump for families and small businesses. It is time for Speaker Pelosi and Senators Reid and Obama to stop blocking an up-or-down vote to help lower gas prices. Congress should not leave for the August recess without giving the American Energy Act the vote it deserves.