Reason For High Gasoline Prices

With gasoline prices at $4.50  plus per gallon in some northern Illinois areas, Congressman Don Manzullo (R-Egan) voted Thursday for bipartisan legislation to increase supplies of American-made energy so we can stem surging fuel prices and put Americans back to work.

The Restarting American Offshore Leasing Now Act (HR 1230) passed the House 266-149 yesterday and heads to the Senate for consideration. Unfortunately, the President has already announced his opposition to the legislation.

The legislation, one of several bills Manzullo has co-sponsored to increase the supply of American-made energy so we no longer have to rely on unstable sources of foreign oil, would require the Obama Administration to lift its blockade of four offshore drilling leases that were previously scheduled to proceed in American waters. The four leases, which would allow drilling of oil and natural gas in the Gulf of Mexico and off the shores of Virginia, were approved years ago by the Bush Administration but were halted by the Obama Administration.

“As record gasoline prices continue to rise with no end in sight, the Administration continues to block the American production of energy. This has to stop. We have to do everything we can to end our dependence on unstable sources of foreign oil, and offshore drilling is certainly one of the options we must pursue,” Manzullo said. “Lifting the blockade on the four drilling leases in the Gulf of Mexico and off the shores of Virginia would not only increase American energy production but it would put Americans back to work, and the tax revenue from the energy sales would help reduce the deficit. I implore the Senate to endorse this legislation and ask the President to please reconsider his opposition to this legislation that would help struggling Americans trying to deal with these surging energy prices.”