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Westmoreland: GAS Act a step in right direction

U.S. Rep. Lynn Westmoreland Friday voted for the Gasoline for America’s Security (GAS) Act of 2005, which passed 212-210.

“The massive increase in gas prices over the past year has ranked at the forefront of my constituents’ concerns,” Westmoreland said. “This is one of those kitchen table issues that politicians ignore at their own peril, and rightfully so.

“There’s no way around the fact that we’re dealing with a finite resource and rising global demand, particularly in China, but Hurricanes Katrina and Rita exposed some glaring weaknesses in our system of energy production and distribution. This bill is a step toward fixing those problems.

“The GAS Act will increase capacity, streamline fuel supply, provide transparency in pricing, reduce bureaucracy and revitalize refineries.

“The simple fact is we need more domestic production and more refining capacity. Frankly, I wish this bill had done more to give companies incentive to increase refining capacity but this is at least a step in the right direction.

“In addition to increasing capacity, this legislation limits ‘boutique fuels’ which push up the price of gas artificially - something that we’re definitely seeing in the parts of my district that are in metro Atlanta - and promotes new pipelines to get new crude oil and refined product to consumers at lower prices.”

Westmoreland lives in Sharpsburg and represents the 8th Congressional District.