Frank Pallone: “The amendment meets the germaneness requirement of clause 7 of rule XVI. The amendment is germane because the amendment…”

“The amendment meets the germaneness requirement of clause 7 of rule XVI. The amendment is germane because the amendment does not introduce a new subject of the text proposed to be amended. The subject of the introduced bill is applying certain requirements to drawdowns from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. The subject of the amendment also applies certain requirements to drawdowns. Again, Mr. Chairman, I have to stress that the reason that this amendment is germane is because we are trying on the Democratic side to seriously address the energy crisis and the energy future of this country. The Republicans are not doing that. They are simply using political points and trying to prevent the use of the reserve to actually help reduce the cost of gasoline at the pump. The CHAIR. The gentleman from South Carolina makes a point of order that the amendment offered by the gentleman from New Jersey is not germane. The bill prohibits the drawdown of petroleum products in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve until the Secretary of Energy has developed a plan to increase the percentage of certain Federal lands leased for oil and gas production. The amendment addresses sundry additional subject matters, including the Home Heating Oil Reserve, State energy transportation plans, and assistance for Western Hemisphere refineries. The Chair finds that the amendment goes beyond the subject matter of the underlying bill. It is, therefore, not germane. The point of order is sustained.”