Date: 2008-06-05
Speaker: DANIEL E. LUNGREN (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. Mr. Speaker. I would just say to my friend from New York. I dont have any geothermal cars in my district. Perhaps the gentleman does in New York. For me to answer the folks back home that are saying what are we going to do about gas prices with well. were studying geothermal. frankly. it just doesnt cut it. You know. I remember the week before we got out for Memorial break. that we had 55. 55. count them. 55 suspensions in 2 days. I cant recall all of them. but when I had a teletown hall this last Sunday in my district. I had 4.200 people on the line. and not one of them asked a question about one of those 55 suspension bills. What did they ask about? They asked about what are you in Congress- going to do. not just about gas prices. but about increasing energy production in this country? So I come back here this week anticipating legislation that perhaps wil deal with those kinds of issues. And what do we have? The first 2 days. we had 22 suspensions. -supporting National Mens Health Week. a worthy cause. but not a single person asked me about that. But almost everybody asked me about gas prices. We recognized the State of Minnesotas 150th anniversary. a worthy goal. But not a single person asked me about that. Not one of the 4.200 people asked me about that. But many of them asked me about gas. We supported the goals and ideals of Arbor Day Foundation and the National Arbor Day. a nice thing to do. but not a single person asked me abo ut National Arbor Day. Many asked me about gasoline prices. We designated a post office to be named after someone in Portland. Oregon. We designated another post office to be named after someone in San Gabriel. California. again a nice thing to do. but not a single person of the 4.200 that were on my teletown hall asked me about that. But they did ask me about gas prices. We had the Federal Food Donation Act of 2008. not a bad idea. but not a single person asked me about that. But they asked me about gas prices. We had the Senior Executive Service Diversity Assurance Act on the floor that we talked about and passed. but no one asked me about that back home. They all asked me about gas prices.. We had the Telework Improvements Act of 2008. No one asked me about that. but they asked me about gas prices. We voted on the Federal Agency Data Protection Act this week. Not a single person asked about that. But almost everybody asked about gas prices. We had the Government Accountability Office Act of 2008. No one asked me about that. but they asked me about the accountability of this Congress in not doinga single thing for more energy production. We had a bill authorizing the use of the Capitol Grounds for the Greater Washington Soap Box Derby. Thats like mother and apple pie. But no one asked me about the Soap Box Derby in Greater Washington. They all asked me about their cars which dont run downhill by gravity. but they do run on gasoline. And they said. what is Congress going to do about that? We authorized the use of the Capitol Grounds for a celebrati6n of the 100th anniversary of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. Now. Im sure thats a wonderful sorority. but not a single person of the 4.200 that were on my teletown hall asked me about that sorority. But .most of them asked about gasoline prices. We had the James Ashley and Thomas Ashley United States Codrthouse Designation Act. And I remember Tom Ashley. a good man. But nobody asked me about him on my teletown hall. But they almost all asked about gas prices.