Time to Reconvene Congress and Pass an Energy Act

State Sen. Tom McClintock called on Charlie Brown to join him in urging House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to reconvene Congress and allow a vote on a new energy plan for America.

Pelosi adjourned the House for a five-week vacation despite dramatically increased gas prices that are hurting American families and businesses and slowing down the economy.  Prior to the recess, she blocked a vote to boost the exploration and development of domestic energy supplies and subsequently bring down the price at the pump.

More Americans are demanding increased offshore drilling for oil and natural gas, and to open up a small portion of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to tap an additional 10 billion barrels of oil.  So far, Pelosi has refused to call the House back into session to address America’s energy crisis.

“Charlie Brown claims that he puts the needs of American families first,” McClintock said today.  “He can prove that by joining me to demand that Pelosi and Congress finally act to develop American oil on American land right now. “

House Republicans have proposed the American Energy Act with an “all-of-the-above” approach to bringing down energy prices.  The Act would allow access to deep water ocean resources for up to three million barrels of oil per day, ANWR for up to one million barrels of oil per day, and the nation’s oil shale reserves for 2.5 million barrels per day.  On a daily basis, usage averages roughly 21.5 million barrels per day.

The Act would eliminate regulatory barriers to the construction of nuclear power plants and oil refineries, neither of which has been built since the 1970’s.

McClintock said bipartisanship will be required to bring genuine relief from America’s energy costs.   “I now ask Mr. Brown to join me in a bi-partisan call for Congress to return to session NOW to open up our vast American energy resources,” McClintock said.