Federal Agency Data Protection Act
FEDERAL AGENCY DATA PROTECTION ACT -- (House of Representatives - June 03, 2008)
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Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak on H.R. 4791, the Federal Agency Data Protection Act. While we appreciate the majority's willingness to incorporate several suggestions from our side such as including language from H.R. 2124, Representative Tom Davis' Federal Agency Data Breach Protection Act, we remain concerned that this legislation misses some key opportunities to advance legislation which truly strengthens our Federal information security laws.
But, Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak on a much more pressing issue, an issue of great concern to all Americans.
With gas prices soaring to $3.98 per gallon over the weekend, according to AAA, the House returned officially from Memorial Day break today, but believe it or not, not a single piece of legislation to help lower gas prices is on the House schedule this week. This is particularly amazing since then Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi promised the American people ``a commonsense plan'' to lower gas prices way back in April, 2006. And it's particularly troubling since House Republicans unveiled a comprehensive plan to lower gas prices 2 weeks ago and has promoted that plan across the country during last week's Memorial Day recess.
Instead of delivering on their April, 2006, promise, however, the Democrats in charge of Congress have delivered only a staggering $1.65 Pelosi premium, meaning consumers are forced to pay $1.65 more per gallon of gasoline compared to what they paid on January 4, 2007, the Democrats' first day in the majority.
For an average family that fills up its two cars once a week, that's an astronomical 2,574 more dollars per year that they are forced to pay at the pump. That's $2,574 less that families have for their children's educational expenses; $2,574 less for family vacations this summer; and $2,574 less for food costs, which also are skyrocketing.
No wonder Democrats are continuing to feel the heat for doing nothing, nothing, to address the rising cost of gasoline.
Let me quote part of a column in Monday's New Hampshire Union Leader about what Congress has done to contribute to American families' and small businesses' pain at the pump:
``Congress has prevented the drilling in the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge, which could be providing 1 million gallons of oil per day. Congress has put 85 percent of the U.S. coastal areas off-limits for drilling. Congress has recently prohibited the processing of oil shale, which could provide substantial quantities of oil economically .....
``To sum it up, Congress has done nothing to help but lots to increase on our dependence on foreign oil and increase the price Americans pay for oil and gas.''
An op-ed published over the weekend in the Athens, Georgia, Banner-Herald makes the case that the Democratic Congress has contributed to the recent surge in gas prices:
``Drilling is prohibited in the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge, a potential source of 1 million barrels a day, 5 percent of America's daily oil consumption. Also off-limits is 85 percent of America's coastline.
``Americans deserve to know the story, in all its gory details, of what their government has done and is doing to cause high prices at the pump and to make gasoline, indeed, all energy, more scarce and more expensive in the future.''
Indeed, while Democrats have offered nothing more than broken promises and policies that drive up gas prices, House Republicans have unveiled a comprehensive plan for lower gas prices and energy independence. The GOP blueprint promotes alternative and renewable fuels, harnesses technologies already being employed successfully by our global competitors, and unlocks America's natural energy resources through the responsible exploration of oil and gas in the United States, a reform backed by the majority of Americans, according to a new Gallup Poll. How much longer will Democrats ignore the will of the American people by keeping the House Republicans' plan off the House floor?
Another quote from the Charleston, West Virginia, Daily Mail: ``Doing Nothing is What Democrats in Congress Have Specialized in, and That's One of the Reasons Gasoline Costs $4 Per Gallon.''
Mr. Speaker, we can stand here and deal with a lot of issues that we're dealing with this week, but we need to get to the issues that the American people want us to deal with, and that's the soaring price of gasoline and energy costs.
Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
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