WALLY HERGER: “if gasoline prices are bad, natural gas prices are even worse. The price of this fuel has tripled over the last six…”

“if gasoline prices are bad, natural gas prices are even worse. The price of this fuel has tripled over the last six years. This dramatic increase is hurting my constituents in Northern California who rely on natural gas for heating and lighting. Farmers who use natural gas for crop drying, irrigation, and fertilizer production are also getting squeezed. Yet while prices climb to record levels, Washington has essentially made it impossible for states to provide any relief. H.R. 4761 changes that. This bipartisan compromise gives the states the power to decide how to utilize America's ocean energy resources. It's a common sense plan for affordable energy, new jobs, and environmental protection. I commend Chairman Pombo and urge my colleagues to support this bill.”