House Republicans Launch Effort to Force Dem Leaders to Schedule Legislation to Increase Refinery Capacity and Help Lower Gas Prices

Congressman John Boehner
June 18, 2008

Congressman John Boehner (R-West Chester) today issued the following statement on a discharge petition filed by Rep. Phil English (R-PA) to force Democratic leaders to schedule a vote on the Expand American Refining Capacity Act (H.R. 2279), legislation authored by Rep. Joe Pitts (R-PA) to allow the President to recommend closed military bases suitable for new refinery construction:

Thanks to our nations costly dependence on foreign sources of energy, American families and small businesses are struggling with $4 per gallon gasoline prices that are continuing to surge higher each and every day. Unfortunately, this Democrat-controlled Congress flatly refuses to schedule a vote on legislation that would increase production of American energy and reduce the pain at the pump. Neither the American people nor House Republicans will stand for such inaction. My GOP colleagues and I will continue offering a series of discharge petitions aimed at forcing the Democratic leadership in Congress to schedule bills that will increase production of American-made energy and lower gas prices.

I thank Rep. Phil English for offering the next discharge petition in this effort. By forcing Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Hoyer to schedule Rep. Joe Pitts Expand American Refining Capacity Act, this petition would pave the way for the first new refinery in the United States since the 1970s and reduce our dependence on gasoline imported from foreign countries. At the same time, it will generate new, good-paying jobs in areas of the country that have been hit hard by military base closings. House Republicans have an all of the above energy plan to harness new technologies, encourage more efficiency and conservation, and increase production of American energy. Rep. Englishs petition is a key part of our plan and a win-win for consumers and workers alike. The Democratic leadership should not delay in bringing it to the House floor.

NOTE: The Expand American Refining Capacity Act would call for the President to identify three military bases slated for closure under the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Commission that would be suitable for locating new oil refineries. For more information on the House Republicans comprehensive plan for lower gas prices, please visit the House Republican’s Real Energy Solutions.”

Boehner represents Ohios 8th District, which includes all of Darke, Miami and Preble counties, most of Butler and Mercer counties, and the northeastern corner of Montgomery County. He was first elected to Congress in 1990.