House GOP Acts to Address Rising Gas Prices Putting the Squeeze on American Families

Usually travelers dont have to worry about taking a hit at the pump until around Memorial Day, but the headaches are coming earlier this year.  Across the board, families are paying more for everything from food to rent to clothing thanks to soaring gas prices, according to the latest consumer price index released by the Labor Department today.  The Associated Press reports that surging gas prices could crimp already modest growth and cost the economy billions.  This is bad news for jobs, as the prolonged increase in gas prices can drive up inflation and drive down hiring, according to the Wall Street Journal.  Americans cant afford any more of President Obamas failed policies that are hiking up prices at the pump – and House Republicans are taking action.

Yesterday, the House approved on a bipartisan basis legislation to expand offshore energy production, open less than three percent of ANWR for oil and natural gas production, encourage the development of 1.5 trillion barrels of oil shale in the Rocky Mountain West, and approve the Keystone XL pipeline, according to the House Natural Resources Committee.  House Energy & Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI) notes that this is now the third time the House has acted to force action on the Keystone XL pipeline that will bring secure energy to America, support the creation of thousands of jobs, and help bring down prices at the pump. President Obama rejected the Keystone pipeline last month over the objection of governors, labor unions and even fellow Democrats  despite the fact that gas prices have nearly doubled on his watch.

Three years of the president’s stimulus policies have failed, and now he is saying no to more American jobs and lower gas prices by rejecting the Keystone pipeline and refusing to work with Republicans to get several House-passed, pro-growth energy bills through the Democratic-led Senate.  Learn more about the legislation House Republicans have passed to help address gas prices and create jobs on the Republican Plan for Americas Job Creators website at jobs.gop.gov and like the American Energy Initiative on Facebook to follow the progress of these, and other House Republican actions to remove government barriers to American energy and jobs.