From the office of Rep. Bill Sali

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Despite unbearable prices at the pump and Congress’ failure to pass meaningful legislation to bring relief to Americans, Democrat House Leadership today passed a resolution to adjourn for five weeks of recess. Sali voted against the resolution, which passed 213-212.

Congressman Sali issued the following statement:

“It is deplorable that we are leaving Americans hanging like this. Now is not the time for Congress to take a 5-week vacation,” said Sali.

“Rather than voting on adjournment, Congress should be debating long term efforts to increase production of American energy, including drilling in ANWR and offshore. We should be voting to remove restrictions on the development of oil shale; increase the number of nuclear power facilities; advance hydro- and wind-power; and incentivize new technologies, such as hydrogen and electric automobiles.

“But families also need relief while we develop American resources. That is why I recently introduced legislation to do exactly that. The Family Energy Relief Act (FERA) of 2008 will provide Americans with a tax credit of $1,000 for couples, $500 for individuals and $250 per dependent to help offset the price they are paying at the pump,” concluded Sali.

While voting against the Democrat’s adjournment resolution, Congressman Sali signed two petitions that, if they garner enough signatures, would force a vote on legislation to boost American energy exploration and production. H.R. 6107 would reduce the price of gasoline by opening the Arctic Energy Slope to environmentally sensitive American energy exploration. H.R. 6108 would reduce the price of gasoline by enabling the United States to responsibly explore its own deep water resources to produce American energy.

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