Fact Check:
Congressman Kennedy’s record on reducing energy prices

Congressman Kennedy is a cosponsor and strong supporter of the Federal Response to Energy Emergencies Act. This legislation would declare unlawful the unconscionable pricing of gasoline, oil, natural gas, and petroleum distillates during emergencies; the intentional reporting of false price information concerning wholesale prices of such products; and the market manipulation regarding the purchase or sale at wholesale of such products.

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Congressman Kennedy has signed letters to the House leadership asking for this bill to be brought to the House floor for a vote and for substantial energy policy reform to be debated in the House.

In addition to his support of this bill, Congressman Kennedy has been concerned about the price gouging that seemed to occur in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. He cosponsored the Hurricane Katrina Energy Emergency Relief Act, that would have suspended the royalties given to gasoline companies while the average price of crude oil in the United States over the most recent four consecutive weeks is greater than $40 per barrel. (109th Congress, HR 3710)

He has signed several letters to the President asking for attention by his Administration to the energy crisis we are facing. These pleas started before Hurricane Katrina drove up prices even further.

He also has called for increased funding for renewable energy in the President’s Budget as well as called for the Attorney General to investigate potential price gouging (August 2005 letter to President Bush on gas prices, October 2005 to President Bush to open up oil reserves, November 2005 to President Bush for more money on renewables in the Budget, March 2006 to Speaker Hastert asking for hearings on Price Gouging, April 2006 to Attorney General for investigation into Price Gouging.)