Bill Text: MO HCR44 | 2012 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Urges Congress and the Administration to seek solutions to rapidly rising fuel costs, and create and maintain our energy independence
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-03-20 - Public Hearing Completed (H) [HCR44 Detail]
Download: Missouri-2012-HCR44-Introduced.html
SECOND REGULAR SESSION
House Concurrent Resolution No. 44
96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVES SOMMER (Sponsor), CRAWFORD AND NOLTE (Co-sponsors).
WHEREAS, the cost of oil in 2001 in the United States averaged $25.29 per barrel and has increased to an all-time high of over $132.00 per barrel in recent years; and
WHEREAS, in January 2012, the cost of oil in the United States averaged over $106.00 per barrel; and
WHEREAS, the price of gasoline averaged $1.51 per gallon in January 2001, and has shot up to over $4.21 in recent years; and
WHEREAS, in February 2012, the cost of a gallon of gas in Missouri has climbed to over $3.45; and
WHEREAS, these fuel and oil costs directly and indirectly negatively impact every individual, business, and government agency in Missouri and in the United States; and
WHEREAS, the increased cost of fuel and oil increases the cost of travel and tourism in Missouri; and
WHEREAS, the increased cost of fuel is having serious impact of families struggling to balance budgets and has increased product input costs making Missouri produced products more expensive; and
WHEREAS, higher oil prices have impacted governmental expenditures at a time of tight budgets and revenue reductions; and
WHEREAS, individuals, businesses, and local governments cannot absorb the steep increases of fuel without increasing costs, cutting vital services and negatively impacting the lives of the general public; and
WHEREAS, it is apparent that Congress does not have an effective plan to lower fuel prices; and
WHEREAS, in order to reduce our dependence on foreign oil, Congress and the Administration should find ways to facilitate the building of new refineries, and an increase in production by permitting the uncapping of existing wells and the drilling of new wells; and
WHEREAS, Congress and the Administration should strive to maintain a well-functioning gasoline market for the good of the economy, without interfering in the marketplace. Changes in federal regulation, introduction of fuel flexibility, removing impediments to importation of fuel from Canada and Mexico, increasing refinery capacity and pipeline construction, as well as greater domestic oil exploration and opening additional areas of production would begin to ease the rising cost of fuels and reduce our dependence on foreign sources of oil:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the members of the House of Representatives of the Ninety-sixth General Assembly, Second Regular Session, the Senate concurring therein, hereby strongly urge the United States Congress and the Obama Administration to immediately seek long-term and short-term solutions to the rapidly rising fuel costs to ease the financial burden on its individuals, businesses, governments and all consumers in Missouri, and in the United States and to create and maintain energy independence for our country; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Chief Clerk of the Missouri House of Representatives be instructed to prepare properly inscribed copies of this resolution for the President of the United States, the Majority and Minority Leaders of the United States Senate and House of Representatives, and each member of the Missouri Congressional delegation.
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