Bush urges Congress to pass energy bill
WHITE HOUSE President Bush says American citizens and businesses are feeling the pinch from high gasoline prices, and his energy plan would help. Bush is using his weekly radio address to urge Capitol Hill lawmakers to line up behind his energy strategy.
Bush says even a little change at the gas pump has "a big impact" on family budgets and business payrolls.
He says "energy needs are growing faster than our domestic sources are able to provide." At the same time, the president says power lines and pipelines are aging and "increasingly vulnerable" to disruption.
The House and Senate have differing energy bills.
The House bill focuses on moving the country to a variety of energy sources in the long term and likely won't immediately ease gas prices. It would allow oil drilling in the sensitive Arctic National Wildlife Refuge -- something Senate Democrats may try to block.
Democrats and critics say Republicans focus on production and ignore conservation.
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