Congressman Mike Conaway - 11th District of Texas

Contact: Anna Koch 202.225.3605

Washington, Aug 11, 2008 - U.S. Congressman Mike Conaway (TX-11) returned to Washington today to continue the floor protest on the American energy crisis to urge Speaker Nancy Pelosi to call a special session of Congress to vote on energy legislation that would allow for increased domestic drilling.

On Friday, August 1st, following an intemperate adjournment, House Republicans, along with hundreds of constituents from both political parties from across the U.S., took to the House Floor chanting and cheering in a form of protest to call the House back to session for a vote to implement domestic drilling legislation. The Democrats turned off all lights, cameras and microphones, but Republicans have continued to be persistent in their efforts.

Below is an excerpt from Congressman Conaway’s speech on the House floor this morning:

"The American people have a particular sense of fairness. Today's debate is not about forcing people to like drilling for oil – it is about having a vote, and allowing the American people to express their will. We have the right to free speech in this country, and 651,000 people in West Texas have asked me to come to this place and speak on their behalf. Rather than debate a comprehensive energy policy, the Democrats have chosen to close the House and end the conversation.

"Ronald Reagan was a man of many quotes. One of his most famous was given in Berlin, while standing in front of one of the enduring symbols of communism: the Berlin Wall. Fed up with the silent suffering of millions of East Berliners, President Reagan demanded: ‘Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!’. Today we stand in the People's House, where our public debate has been silenced and we also demand: Speaker Pelosi, turn on these lights and give us a vote!"