Senate Resolution 23

A RESOLUTION URGING THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO ESTABLISH A DOMESTIC ENERGY POLICY THAT WILL ENSURE AN ADEQUATE SUPPLY AND THE APPROPRIATE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR NATURAL GAS, PROMOTE GREATER ENERGY EFFICIENCY, AND OPEN PROMISING NEW AREAS FOR ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE NATURAL GAS PRODUCTION.

WHEREAS, the price of natural gas in the United States, already the highest in the industrial world, has again spiked and shows continued volatility; and

WHEREAS, the abnormally high natural gas prices have been a $111 Billion unanticipated burden on the economy of the United States over the past 18 months; and

WHEREAS, the United States is over reliant on natural gas in our national energy supply, creating a tremendous imbalance between natural gas supply and demand; and

WHEREAS, the manufacturers, farmers, small businesses, local governments and retailers are struggling from skyrocketing natural gas prices. Further, thousands of jobs in these industries are threatened, since many of these businesses use natural gas as a raw material as well as an energy supply; and

WHEREAS, the natural gas imbalance is not a free market problem. The high price of natural gas is created by governmental policies that increase demand for natural gas while impeding the development of a greater supply by discouraging more exploration and production. Since natural gas is domestically produced and very hard to import, the United States cannot correct the imbalance by the importation of natural gas; and

WHEREAS, the State of Mississippi supports a sound, rational, domestic energy policy:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That the Senate of the State of Mississippi hereby urges the United States Congress to enact legislation in the 109th Congress establishing a domestic energy policy that will ensure an adequate supply of natural gas and the appropriate infrastructure. Such energy policy should develop a concerted national effort to promote greater energy efficiency, and open promising new areas for environmentally responsible natural gas production.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be prepared and delivered to President George W. Bush, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and each member of the Mississippi congressional delegation.