Link to Press Release WATCH: Inhofe Floor Speech
Washington, D.C.-Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.), Ranking Member on the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, released the following statement today on the Democrats' plan to raise taxes on America's oil and gas producers, truckers, commuters, and anyone who fills up at the pump. Inhofe plans to introduce the Upton-Inhofe bill as an amendment to help remove a key barrier to producing more American energy.
"One of the surest ways to unleash America's massive energy potential is to overturn the Obama EPA's attack on affordable energy through its cap-and-trade agenda," Sen. Inhofe said. "America's recoverable oil, natural gas, and coal resources are the largest in the world, yet EPA is one of many federal agencies preventing us from harnessing it to create jobs and produce energy for our struggling economy. EPA's global warming regulations have already forced at least one domestic refining business to curtail its expansion plans, meaning fewer good-paying jobs, less home-grown energy, and higher prices at the pump.
"So if the opportunity arises, I plan to introduce Upton-Inhofe as an amendment to the Democrats' bill to increase gasoline taxes. With overwhelming bipartisan support, the House passed Upton-Inhofe to stop EPA's cap-and-trade regulations. We came ten votes short in the Senate to overcome a Democrat-led filibuster. I would welcome additional support, especially from members whose home state economies are heavily dependent on manufacturing and energy production. I look forward to continuing this important debate to remove one of the primary obstacles to producing more American energy and growing our economy."
