Democrats Block Blackburn, Scott, Colleagues Transparency Proposal To Address Rising Energy Prices

November 1, 2021

WASHINGTON, D.C. – As energy prices across America surge higher, Senate Democrats blocked the passage of the Give Americans Stability at Pumps as Rising Inflation Causes Emergencies (GAS PRICE) Act. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Rick Scott (R-Tenn.) introduced this legislation alongside Senators Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Shelley Moore-Capito (R-W.Va.), Ron Johnson (R-Wisc.), and Jerry Moran (R-Kan.). The GAS PRICE Act would direct the Energy Information Administration (EIA) to report to Congress any policy or rule set by the Biden administration which raises energy costs for American families.

 

Reports from the EIA have shown that prices on energy, like gasoline, have increased 55% in just one year, and it is predicted that this winter, home heating prices are going to rise by more than 40% for homes that use heating oil, more than 30% for homes using natural gas, and 54% for homes using propane.

 

“American families should not have to pay for the Biden administration’s failed energy policies,” said Senator Marsha Blackburn. “Democrats in the Senate would rather cover the White House’s tracks than face the reality that the administration’s ‘green energy’ agenda is directly harming the American people.”

 

“Just this week, the South Florida Sun Sentinel ran a story with the headline, ‘Gas Prices hit their highest level since 2014. When will we get a break?’ As gas prices keep rising, the message from Florida couldn’t be more clear. But this is about more than just headlines. These skyrocketing prices are hurting real families who are living paycheck to paycheck, and struggling to keep up. I grew up poor. When my parents’ bills went up, it made it more difficult on my family. When gas prices went up, it meant we had less food to put on the table,” said Senator Rick Scott. “The only person to blame for what we are seeing across this country is Joe Biden. He’s done everything in his power to destroy America’s energy independence. In his first month in office, he cut the Keystone Pipeline permit and killed thousands of American jobs. Then he suspended new oil and gas leasing and drilling permits for federal lands. Of course, Joe Biden only knows how to blame everyone but himself. Since the Biden administration has shown ZERO interest in fixing this urgent problem, I introduced a simple bill today that just made it so Congress would be informed when a new policy or rule causes energy costs for American families to go up. Of course, Democrats blocked it. Joe Biden’s lieutenants in the Senate will do anything to cover up the disastrous impacts of his failed energy agenda and today was just further proof of that fact. It’s shameful but I won’t stop fighting against the Democrats’ radical socialist agenda that is driving up prices and hurting American families more every day.”