Pelosi Statement on Senate Passage of the SPR Fill Suspension and Consumer Protection Act

May 14, 2008

Washington, D.C. - Speaker Nancy Pelosi released the following statement tonight after the passage of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve Fill Suspension and Consumer Protection Act by unanimous consent in the United States Senate. Now cleared for the President's desk, the legislation, which passed the House by a vote of 385 to 25 on Tuesday, temporarily suspends the filling of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) through the end of the year, as long as the price of crude oil remains above $75 per barrel.

'On a bipartisan basis, the New Direction Congress has passed legislation to lower the price at the pump. Despite the President's objections, both the House and Senate have voted overwhelmingly to suspend deliveries to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, which can save consumers now, as it has in the past. As we send this legislation to the White House, we hope the President will join us in this and further efforts to reduce prices for Americans who are stretching their budgets to afford the record high price at the pump.

'I want to commend Congressman Peter Welch of Vermont and Senator Byron Dorgan of North Dakota for their tremendous leadership in shepherding this legislation through the House and Senate.'

'Next week, the House will act on legislation that will extend and expand tax incentives to invest in renewable energy and create the green jobs of the future, and revised NOPEC legislation to allow the Attorney General to bring legal action against OPEC-controlled entities that are colluding to set the price of oil.

'When the President returns from the Middle East, we urge him to not only sign this legislation to suspend deliveries to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, but abandon his 'drill and veto' policies of the past.'