RPC Blog

1:14 - The day's proceedings adjourn.

1:02 - Rep. Thaddeus McCotter:  "There are three things we need to do to responsibly transition to energy independence and security. One, we all agree on common sense conservation.  Two, we all agree on allowing free market innovations. Third, and this is where we disagree, increase American production of oil and natural gas."

12:41 - Rep. Sam Graves:  "People are suffering from high gas prices...the reason I'm here today is to send a message that the House needs to end its vacation so we can end americas dependence on foreign oil.  Washington needs to get serious about energy and stop bringing these do nothing bills to the floor.

12:26 - Rep. Mike Rogers (MI):  "This inaction by House democrats is killing family budgets; it is killing small businesses; its killing our economy."  "Why do we continue to export jobs and money?  We send $1 Billion dollars overseas everyday. What if we kept that $1 billion?  In six years, we could be free from ever having to buy a single barrel of foreign oil."  "We have to do better, we must do better, and the great news is we can do better."

12:22 - Rep. Greg Walden:  "Ben Bernanke, Federal Reserve Chairman,  at the House Financial Services Committee said a one percent increase in supply would result in a 10 percent decrease in prices."

11:52 - Rep.  Mike Ferguson:  "All we are looking for is an up or down vote.  We're not saying that our proposal has to become law, but we want it to have a chance."  "It is not just about drilling for oil, its about a whole mentality of conservation and alternatives. We know we need more oil and we need more gas in the immediate future to lower prices."  "This is America, this is the People's House, where the American people's voices are heard!"

11:28 - Rep. Nathan Deal:  "One of the issues we want to address is offshore drilling - OCS- Outer Continental Shelf and a lot of people say this is bad for the environment, but Mother Nature has provided a rebuttal to this. Mother Nature provided a rebuttal more powerful and convincing than anything I could come up with in Hurricane Katrina. Katrina struck one of the few areas where we allow offshore drilling, but with modern technology they were able to shut off the source on the ocean floor. Not a single drop of oil was lost."

11:15 - Rep. Frank Wolf:  "We have a nine trillion dollar debt and China and Saudi Arabia own most of that debt. It is ridiculous for us to be sending this money to countries like China with its human rights violations and Saudi Arabia with its madrasas...It is a moral issue, the money we are sending to China is being used to fund genocide in Darfur...Americans can have the resources we need and not transfer this wealth to Saudi Arabia and China."

11:08 - The day was called to order by Rep. Greg Walden.  The Pledge of Alligience was led by Rep. Frank Wolf and a prayer was offered by Rep. Nathan Deal. Currently, Members in attendance are:  Reps. Ferguson, Walden, McCotter, Wolf, Deal, and Rogers (MI). 

In wake of revanchist Russia’s invasion of Georgia, a sovereign democracy allied with the United States and Europe, the stunned Bush administration’s response to this failure of “quiet diplomacy” and “engagement” policy with Comrade Putin – he of the soulful eyes – was initially one of stammered clichés, each of which is revelatory, juvenile and injurious.

12: 07 - Rep. Candice Miller:  "We are the only country on the planet that will not advantage ourselves and use our own domestic energy supply."

11:48 - Rep. Shelley Moore Capito:  "Our fore fathers created this body to represent the people. We should address and start looking 20 years down the road as it relates to alternative energy."

11:42 - Rep. Pete Hoekstra:  "Gas prices are an economic hardship on the American people! Even natural gas has gone up. We need to approach and address this issue due to the tremendous burden it has on our economy!"  "If it takes until October or up until the election, we are willing to stay here and debate this issue of energy!"

11:30 - Rep. George Radanovich led the House Chamber in a prayer. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Rep. Candice Miller.

The Hill wrote an article regarding Rep. McCotter's call for a Joint Session of Congress.  Full text is below or click here. 

Members want Saakashvili to address Congress

House and Senate leaders should invite Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili to address a joint session of Congress, according to bipartisan members of the Congressional Georgia Caucus.

Chairman McCotter addressed the Georgian peace rally at the Russian Embassy on Friday, August 15.  Click below to check it out!