To lower gas prices, we must get serious about producing more American-made energy.  That means tapping into our own resources. 

We have a choice – our country can either continue to sit idle and remain at the mercy of foreign nations for energy or, we can take matters into our own hands and start accessing the billions of barrels of known reserves here in America.  There’s no doubt in my mind that the right choice is for us to act.

Consider this: Alaska’s ANWR region contains an estimated 10.4 billion barrels of oil.  That’s more than twice the proven oil reserves in Texas.  The oceans off America’s coastline contain 240 trillion cubic feet of natural gas and 86 billion barrels of oil.  Federal lands contain an estimated 31 billion barrels of oil. 

The way to combat rising prices due to high demand is to increase supply by tapping into these resources.  Yet, these reserves have been put off limits.  Proposals to increase domestic oil and gas production have faced years of opposition.  Drilling in a tiny portion of ANWR, for example, has been blocked since President Clinton vetoed it in 1995 – and now we’re paying the price.

Despite record gas and diesel prices, those who control Congress keep blocking attempts to produce more American-made energy.  Democrat leaders haven’t allowed a debate or vote on a single bill that would actually produce more energy and lower prices.  

We have the resources and technology to produce more American-made energy – we just need leaders who will allow it.  If the House of Representatives were allowed to vote, I think proposals to drill here in America would pass. 

It’s time to stop saying no to solutions, and start saying yes – not only to drilling for oil and gas, but to all parts of the answer.  That means:

• Making it easier to build and license American refineries.  
• Expanding wind, solar, hydrogen fuel cells and other new energy sources.
• Reducing fuel blend mandates that increase costs.
• Investing in more nuclear and hydropower.
• No new gas taxes.

Some say we shouldn’t bother because this all will take years to produce results – claiming the answer is lawsuits, investigations and federal mandates over what car you drive and how you light your home.   

That’s just dead wrong.  We need to increase the supply to decrease the price – and we need to do it here in America.  The longer we postpone producing more oil here, the longer we’ll pay high prices.