By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter
Congressman Mike Rogers (R) from Anniston issued a written statement where he discussed rising gas prices. Rep. Rogers said that gasoline prices are high and potentially could rise higher.
Representative Rogers said, “Across East Alabama, folks are downright angry about the rising costs of gas and they have every reason to be. So am I. According to AAA, the national average for a gallon of regular gasoline is $3.76. In February it was $3.47, so in one month, it has increased 29 cents and from the way things are going, it seems that trend will continue.”
Rep. Rogers warned, “The situation in the Middle East continues to be in turmoil.” “As Iran continues to pursue its rogue nuclear weapons program; the constant threat of closing the Strait of Hormuz remains. Almost 20 percent of the world oil trade crosses through the Strait of Hormuz, so if Israel and Iran enter into a military conflict, prices could soar.”
Rep. Rogers said that we need an energy plan: “America doesn’t just need more distant sources of oil. We need real energy solutions here at home. For example, I wish Congress would get serious and allow the Keystone Pipeline XL to bring oil in from our friend and ally, Canada, to be refined into gasoline and help create jobs in America. We could also do more safe drilling here at home. We could open just 3 percent of Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and also drill from the Outer Continental Shelf.”
Rep. Rogers continued, “President Obama highlights America’s increased oil production in the US, but most of that has been on private land over which the Federal government has little control. One recent report, from the Institute for Energy Research, notes oil production on Federal lands declined by 11 percent last year.” Everyone in Washington must help America become energy independent, which will lower the price at the pump.”
Presidential candidate Newt Gingrich has stated that if the administration would allow the oil industry to build the Keystone XL pipeline, open up more of Alaska to energy exploration, increase energy exploration on federal lands, develop more oil fields offshore, dramatically increase and roll back many of these crippling EPA regulations that gas prices could fall to $2.50 a gallon.
President Barack H. Obama continue to say that there is no “silver bullet” and insists that the billions of taxpayer dollars he has plowed into developing solar, wind, commercial scale cellulosic or advanced bio-refineries, research “aimed at achieving new and transformational energy breakthroughs”, and fantastically unrealistic future fuel economy standards will eventually yield some sort of benefit for the American people at some point in the perhaps distant future.
You can contact the Congressman at www.mike-rogers.house.gov, become his fan on Facebook at Congressman Mike D. Rogers, follow him on Twitter at RepMikeRogersAL and subscribe to his YouTube page at MikeRogersAL03.
To read Congressman Rogers statement:
http://mike-rogers.house.gov/press-release/america%E2%80%99s-ongoing-energy-crisis
To read the President’s energy progress report:
