Duncan Offers Meaningful Energy Solutions

Washington, DC -- With the price of a gallon of gas averaging more than $4 nationwide, Congressman John J. Duncan, Jr. (R-TN) spent Friday morning discussing energy policy changes that need to be made to bring relief to the citizens of East Tennessee.

At the Pilot Travel Center on Strawberry Plains Pike, Congressman Duncan, who was joined at today’s event by Pilot Corp. founder Jim Haslam II, addressed growing frustrations with energy prices and what Congress needs to do to provide relief to the American people.

“Everywhere I go people come up to me and ask ‘What are you doing about gas prices?’  I sympathize with their frustrations,” said Duncan.  “I have been working with my colleagues for years to pass laws that would allow for more exploration in our Country and end our dependency on foreign oil.  Sadly, liberals have been continually locking away our Nation’s rich energy reserves and blocking the creation of new jobs.”

Since the beginning of 2007, gas prices have increased 75%. 

“Americans agree that while we develop alternatives to petroleum that we should be exploring for more of our own oil right here in our Country, and still they are ignored by the majority in the Congress.  Unless we get control of the situation now, the prices of everything from food to clothing will be affected by the continued increase in fuel prices.”

According to a recent Gallup poll, the majority of Americans support drilling in coastal and wilderness areas.  There are over one trillion barrels of oil estimated to be available domestically in areas that are currently off-limits.  One million barrels of oil will produce 27 million gallons of gas and diesel fuel.  Even the smallest increase in production would not only create jobs, but it would send a message to oil exporting countries that they cannot simply continue to drive up the price of oil.

“No other Nation in the entire world has as many restrictions on developing their own oil and natural gas resources. Every other Nation regards their natural resources as economic assets. It is a shame there are some elitists in the Congress who regard the natural resources here in the United States as environmental liabilities.”

“Environmental groups claim to want to save the environment.  Instead, they are only helping foreign energy producers at the expense of lower- and middle-income Americans.”