Political Quotes

“I rise today in support of the Offshore Production and Safety Act, a measure to increase domestic production of oil and natural gas in this country. There are any number of things that make the United States the great Nation it is. Three of these things relate directly to the debate on the legislation that we will vote on this afternoon. They include our bountiful natural resources, the freedoms established by our Founding Fathers, and the determination of the American people. The measure offered by the majority yesterday would have worked to stifle these very characteristics by discouraging economic activity, taxing industriousness, and putting more of our resources off-limits for development. From the oil wealth of the gulf coast, to the coal reserves of Appalachia, from the hydroelectric power that characterizes much of the American West, to the oilfields of Alaska, America is blessed with an almost boundless supply of energy wealth. From the time of this Nation's founding, Americans have sought to explore and develop this bounty. I am pleased to note that in recent decades we have become more responsible stewards of this endowment. Last night, I held a telephone townhall meeting with many of my constituents, and the issues of gasoline prices and energy independence were raised repeatedly. It is certainly not surprising in light of the high gasoline prices we are facing today.…”