Urges President to "Bring ’em back and make ’em work" if Congress Adjourns Without a Vote
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Congressman Mike Pence gave the following speech from the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives today urging President Bush to call a special session of Congress if the House adjourns without voting to address the nation’s current energy crisis:
“Yesterday, by one vote, the House voted to adjourn as soon as today for the August Recess.
“This means that Congress is about to take a five-week vacation without even taking a vote on bipartisan measures that would lessen our dependence on foreign oil by allowing more domestic drilling on the Outer Continental Shelf.
“The American people won’t get a vacation from high gasoline prices, so Congress shouldn’t take a vacation until we vote to lessen our dependence on foreign oil.
“If the Speaker won’t keep the House in session to allow this vote, I urge President Bush to call an immediate energy special session of Congress. Under Article II, Section 3 of the Constitution, the President has the power ‘on extraordinary occasions’ to convene the Congress.
“You know, if $4 per gallon gas isn’t an extraordinary occasion that demands action by the Congress, I don’t know what is. The Congress should stay in session and do its job and give the bipartisan, pro-drilling majority a vote.
“Mr. President, if this Congress tries to leave town without voting on more drilling, use your constitutional authority, bring ‘em back and make ‘em work!”
