Washington, Jul 17 -

Congressman George Radanovich (R-Mariposa) today released the following statement after joining a bipartisan coalition of House members to defeat H.R. 6515, the disingenuously named “DRILL Act”.

“The American people are growing more and more tired of a Congress that is simply ignoring the number one concern across the country—the price of gasoline.  The bill that was defeated on the House floor today would have done nothing to increase our domestic oil and natural gas production capacity and therefore would have done nothing to help citizens of the Central Valley cope with record high gas prices.

“During a telephone townhall meeting last night I spoke with many constituents about this very topic and the overwhelming majority supported increasing domestic oil and natural gas production in places like the OCS and ANWR

“Congress should not be playing chicken with American families’ pocketbooks over gas prices for the amusement of a fringe radical environmental constituency.  We need more American-made energy and the longer Congress delays, the more people will suffer.”