To CONGRESS, JULY 4, 2008
A unanimous Declaration from the fifty united States of America
When in the course of human events it becomes necessary for a people to dissolve its dependence on foreign oil and force Congress to act to defend America by allowing environmentally sound development of the natural resources that God established in this country for the betterment of all Americans:
We hold these truths to be self-evident that Americans have suffered long enough and that Americans should not be dependent on Hugo Chavez or any other foreign dictator for our energy. Americans have the need for energy independence to secure the rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
Congress should end the tyrannical rule over our nation by foreign energy suppliers by encouraging more production of American energy from all resources. To prove this, let the facts be submitted to a candid world:
Congress has refused their assent to enact laws necessary for Energy Independence and Security.
Congress has blocked drilling for clean natural gas and oil off the coasts of Florida, while the foreign nations drill within miles of US borders.
Congress has refused their assent to expand energy production on federal lands for American - made oil and natural gas.
Congress has blocked the commercial production of oil shale which could replace all of the oil we now import from the Middle East.
Congress has enacted laws forbidding the use of clean coal for use as a fuel by the military and the federal government, one of the largest consumers of fuel in the world.
Congress has not embraced expansion of nuclear energy even though it is a clean and renewable source of energy.
Congress has enacted clean fuels mandates while not providing a dedicated source of funding to develop these fuels. Congress has preferred the heavy hand of mandated conservation rather than investing in and promoting free-market principles of conservation which will actually reduce our dependence on foreign oil.
Congress has enacted laws whose regulatory framework has created insurmountable obstacles for the construction of gasoline refineries, thereby creating shortages of fuel in times of national and natural disaster.
Congress has failed to extend tax breaks for energy producers and consumers and has instead opted to punish oil and gas producers with higher and higher taxes which stifles the production of clean, American made energy.
Congress’s current legislative inaction and hostility toward American made energy has led to the depletion of our domestic energy workforce, shifting hundreds of thousands of high paying jobs to foreign countries.
Congress has chosen to regulate rather than innovate. Energy innovation is essential to America’s short and long-term energy independence and security.
Congress’s inaction on energy issues has led the young mother to sell her blood plasma and heirloom jewelry for fuel; the single—cab driving—father to work longer hours rather than spend time with his daughters; the loving father to skip out on a memory-making camping trip with his sons; forced the homebound to miss meals and medications and the senior citizen into his electric wheelchair instead of his truck for essential visits and errands; and pushed the little children out of the school bus and onto the streets.
We, therefore, as citizens of the United States of America, petition Congress to enact laws and declare our nation a nation of energy independent and secure states, free from allegiance to foreign oil. As citizens and representatives of government, we call upon Congress to act now by enacting a comprehensive program, the Americans for American Energy Act. And for the support of this Declaration, with a view toward firm reliance on our nation’s abundant resources, we refuse to sacrifice our jobs, our economy, our recreation, and our children’s futures for lack of a domestic energy policy.