September 16, 2008: Congressman Wittman Disappointed by the Democratic Energy Bill

"Speaker Pelosi has given us a bill that permanently locks away the vast majority of our offshore oil reserves, includes no royalty sharing with states, no environmentally responsible drilling in ANWR, no nuclear energy, no new refineries, nowhere near enough progress on clean coal technology, nothing to encourage domestic energy production and a $19 billion tax increase on energy companies. Beyond that, it's a bill that her democrat Senate colleagues have declared 'dead on arrival,'" said Wittman.

"The American people want us to work together. This is not working together. This is playing political games in the face of suffering American families. It would be laughable, if it weren't so sad," said Wittman.

"This energy bill is particularly bad for Virginians. By denying our state the right to collect royalties on offshore leasing, the federal government is usurping billions of dollars that would go to Virginia state government and making sure that we are discouraged from opening up our oceans for energy exploration," said Wittman.

"All along, I've argued for Republicans and Democrats to work together to develop a comprehensive energy policy. With nine working days left in this session, I can't believe that this is the best Congress can do for the American people," said Wittman.