Todd Tiahrt: “Gas is over $4 a gallon and people are upset. According to a May 20 Gallup poll, 57 percent of Americans support…”

“Gas is over $4 a gallon and people are upset. According to a May 20 Gallup poll, 57 percent of Americans support drilling in U.S. coastal and wilderness areas that are now off-limits. The tide is turning. Americans know we can solve this problem of high gas prices. Just this week the Sioux City Journal reported the results of what they called the 'most important election in the county's history.' By a solid 58-42 percent, the voters of Union County approved a zoning ordinance that will keep alive the county's chances of landing the Nation's first oil refinery in 32 years. They know we need to increase our energy supply, and that's why I introduced the Refinery Streamlined Permitting Act, H.R. 2471, a bill that would require agencies to give high priority to refinery applications that would result in greater capacity, a cleaner-burning fuel, and a reduction in refinery's pollution output. Mr. Speaker, Americans need substantive solutions to secure our Nation's energy future. Let's join together in our efforts to open up the coasts, the wilderness areas, and drill for more oil to increase our domestic supply and bring down the price of gasoline.”