September 2, 2005

            “I’m very pleased that the President today declared a state of emergency in Texas,” Hall added.  “This action releases Federal funds to assist all counties in Texas in their efforts to help evacuees.  Texans and citizens throughout the country are rallying to provide assistance – and it will take all our efforts to help these areas recover from the devastation wrought by the hurricane. 

            Today the House of Representatives approved by unanimous consent an emergency supplemental appropriations bill of $10.5 billion to ensure that the Federal Emergency Management Agency has the necessary funds to provide disaster relief.  The President will sign the bill today. 

            “This initial round of funding will keep FEMA operating until Congress returns after the Labor Day weekend, or earlier if called,” Hall said.  “We will address additional funding needs in the days to come.

            “We are all concerned about the relief efforts, and we are all concerned about the high prices of gasoline,” Hall added.  “The Energy and Commerce Committee will hold a hearing on gasoline prices next week, at which time we’ll gather testimony from Department of Energy and industry representatives and determine what Federal action may be necessary to ensure fair market prices.”

            “The President’s decision to release oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve helped bring confidence to the market – but we will need to do more, both short-term and long-term, to prevent prices from spiraling,” Hall said.

            Hall will join Energy and Commerce Chairman Joe Barton of Texas in requesting that Governors of all 50 states address the provision in the recently passed Energy Policy Act that would streamline consideration of permits for new refineries in each of the fifty states.    

            “We need to move as quickly as possible to increase production and distribution of energy supplies in the United States,” Hall said.  “The disruption due to the hurricane  – combined with America’s dependence on foreign sources for more than half of its energy – underscore the need to increase our energy supplies and increase our energy independence.”

             “Our efforts in Congress this month will focus on helping recovery efforts along the Gulf Coast as well as ensuring that America has the resources and infrastructure necessary to respond to any national emergency,” Hall said.  “We also need to investigate ways in which we can better help prevent such emergencies.”