Robert Pittenger: “Year after year, decade after decade, the American people have been held captive to the Middle East for what we pay for…”

“Year after year, decade after decade, the American people have been held captive to the Middle East for what we pay for the price of gas. Even today, war-torn Syria, with its own civil war, has impacted the price of gas that each of us pays. In my own city of Charlotte, we pay 14 cents a gallon more this year than we did last year. While families are going on vacation over the 4th of July, throughout the summer, or what they pay at the grocery store is all impacted because America is not energy independent. Mr. Speaker, that's why I rise in support of H.R. 1613, to make America energy independent. We can develop oil and natural gas off our maritime border in Mexico, while creating new jobs and improving our economy. Mr. Speaker, it's time for America to be independent and to stand alone and to bring and restore a solid economic period of time for this country. Let's vote today to support gas prices that will be lower for America, with energy independence from America. ____________________”