PRINTER'S NO. 3041
No. 546 Session of 2007
INTRODUCED BY GEORGE, ARGALL, BELFANTI, BOBACK, BRENNAN,
CONKLIN, DALEY, DePASQUALE, DeWEESE, FREEMAN, GEIST, GRUCELA,
HARKINS, HENNESSEY, HORNAMAN, JAMES, JOSEPHS, KULA,
LEVDANSKY, LONGIETTI, MAHONEY, McGEEHAN, MELIO, MUNDY, MYERS,
M. O'BRIEN, PALLONE, PARKER, PAYNE, PETRARCA, PETRONE,
RAMALEY, READSHAW, SIPTROTH, K. SMITH, SWANGER, THOMAS,
WALKO, WANSACZ, J. WHITE, WOJNAROSKI, YOUNGBLOOD AND
YUDICHAK, DECEMBER 18, 2007
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY,
DECEMBER 18, 2007
A RESOLUTION
1 Urging the Congress of the United States to exercise due
2 diligence on behalf of the citizens of this Commonwealth and
3 of this nation by implementing oversight, inquiry and
4 investigation into gas and energy prices to ensure that these
5 exceedingly high prices are both necessary and ethically
6 ascertained.
7 WHEREAS, Coal, oil and natural gas currently provide more
8 than 85% of all the energy consumed in the United States, which
9 accounts for nearly two-thirds of our electricity consumption
10 and virtually all of our transportation fuels; and
11 WHEREAS, Even with aggressive development and deployment of
12 new renewable and nuclear technologies, it is likely that this
13 nation's burgeoning and debilitating dependence on foreign oil
14 will surely increase over at least the next two decades; and
15 WHEREAS, With continued strife in the Middle East and unrest
16 in other oil-producing regions, the price and supply of gas and
1 energy have grown increasingly unstable in today's complex,
2 globalized economy; and
3 WHEREAS, The Department of Energy forecasts a sharp and
4 definite spike in gas and energy prices over the winter months,
5 further crippling consumers of this nation, especially those
6 living in the northeast; and
7 WHEREAS, More than 50% of this Commonwealth's citizens and
8 58% of this nation's households utilize natural gas, forcing
9 families with low income to spend 10% of their annual incomes on
10 energy costs; and
11 WHEREAS, America's economic viability, national security and
12 citizens' welfare depend on the continued availability of
13 reliable and affordable fossil fuels; and
14 WHEREAS, The economic duress of this nation is further
15 exacerbated by increasing energy prices, thus depressing
16 consumer spending, which accounts for two-thirds of economic
17 activity in the United States; and
18 WHEREAS, The lack of oversight and inquiry by Congress into
19 the energy policy of this nation resulted in the five largest
20 United States refineries earning $228 billion in profits from
21 2001 to 2005; and
22 WHEREAS, These unscrupulous and inordinate profits were
23 procured on the backs of hard-working Americans who struggle
24 just to fill their gas tanks and heat their homes; therefore be
25 it
26 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the
27 Commonwealth of Pennsylvania urge the Congress of the United
28 States to exercise due diligence on behalf of the citizens of
29 this Commonwealth and of this nation by implementing oversight,
30 inquiry and investigation into gas and energy prices to ensure
20070H0546R3041 - 2 -
1 that these exceedingly high prices are both necessary and
2 ethically ascertained.
L12L82GRH/20070H0546R3041 - 3 -