Steve Watkins: “I have only 1 minute to make a point. We have lost over 100,000 jobs to oil patch in this country. We have lost equity.…”

“I have only 1 minute to make a point. We have lost over 100,000 jobs to oil patch in this country. We have lost equity. And I say to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Leach) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. LaFalce), that is the difference. We have lost more equity ever in the history of the energy industry. I am not talking about the majors, the multinationals, I am talking about the mom and pops in the small oil service jobs. We subsidized ethanol and we bailed out New York City. The Department of Energy is doing nothing. In fact, the Department of Energy is harming the oil and domestic energy industry. Why? Because they are supporting a lot of foreign oil production, especially in Iraq. What kind of policy do we have? We have sanctions. We are proposing to lift the caps in Iraq. They are selling oil illegally to Jordan and we are loaning money to Jordan. What kind of policy is that? It is crazy. My colleagues, our people do not understand it. During the July 4 break I marveled at our senior citizens. A grandmother approached me and said, ``Congressman, I know you are going to take care of my Social Security, and I know that you are going to take care of my Medicare, but, Congressman, when can my grandson go back to work in the oil patch?'' It is serious out there in America, and I ask my colleagues for their help.”