Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Mike McIntyre today outlined the series of steps Congress has taken to help bring down the cost of gasoline and deliver relief to drivers across Southeastern North Carolina. In recent days, McIntyre backed a new law to suspend filling the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, legislation to invest in renewable energy sources, and a plan to hold to hold foreign oil cartels and Big Oil accountable.

“Drivers in North Carolina are paying for too much for gasoline and suffering at the pump,” said McIntyre. “Congress has worked hard to implement short term solutions to bring down prices and develop the long term strategy we need to make our nation energy independent.”

Four specific items that Congressman McIntyre has supported include:

1) Congress took decisive action to bring down the price of gas and passed legislation to suspend the filling of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) through the end of the year. This legislation was signed into law by the President and suspensions have lowered gas prices in the past.

2) In addition, an overwhelming bipartisan majority in the House also passed Gas Price Relief for Consumers Act of 2008. The legislation gives U.S. authorities the ability to prosecute anticompetitive conduct committed by international cartels like OPEC that restrict supply and drives up prices. The bill also creates a Department of Justice Petroleum Industry Antitrust Task Force and asks the GAO to investigate the effects on competition of prior mergers in the petroleum industry.

3) Furthermore, the House took another step towards ending our dependence on foreign oil and encouraging the production and use of renewable fuels by passing The Renewable Energy and Job Creation Act provides tax credits for the production of renewable energy sources like solar and wind energy, and incentives for the production of renewable fuels and energy efficient products.

4) Finally, Congress has passed the Farm Bill, which boosts homegrown biofuel production made from biomass and crop byproducts other than grain -- using new technologies. Without biofuels, gas prices could be 15% higher than they are now. It also increases oversight authority to detect and prevent manipulation of energy prices.