Daines Slams Democrats Who Killed His ‘Gas Prices Relief Act’

Montana Senator Steve Daines recently joined with Kansas Senator Roger Marshall to introduce a bill designed to lower gas prices for Americans called ‘The Gas Prices Relief Act’, however the bill was killed before making it out of the Senate.

Daines appeared on the floor of the U.S. Senate on Tuesday to voice his anger and disappointment with Senators who opposed the bill. He laid out the premise of the bill.

“Madame President, the price at the pump has skyrocketed,” said Senator Daines. “Let's do a quick trip down memory lane. When President Biden was inaugurated, the weekly average price for gas was about $2.30 a gallon. In fact, when we introduced the bill that we're trying to pass today, The Gas Price Relief Act on March 31 of this year, the weekly average was $4.02 a gallon. The weekly average today is $4.84. In fact, other studies show it's now $5 and climbing.”

Daines shared an anecdote about his most recent trip home to Montana.

“We think these numbers will keep going up, and most analysts agree,” he said. “We may be facing $6.00 per gallon gas by this summer. I filled up my pickup in Belgrade, Montana Friday night. My wife and I pulled into a gas station and when the tank was full, the price tag was $138. The pain at the pump that Montana families are feeling today is because of the Democrats’ anti American energy policies.”

Daines asked the Senators present about a possible solution, referencing what President Biden has already suggested to bring down gas prices.

“What's the solution?” he asked. “We're hearing from President Biden who is turning to foreign dictators for more oil, tapping or oil reserves or begging OPEC to increase production. But perhaps the most out of touch solution I've heard, he simply suggests that families buy electric vehicles. I can say that won't work in a state like Montana. The real solution is to unleash American energy and encourage American energy investment.”

Daines explained the benefits of The Gas Prices Relief Act.

“This bill I have with Senator Marshall was simple,” he said. “It prevents the Biden administration from imposing any new rules or regulations that would decrease oil gas or renewable fuel production, which would therefore increase gas prices on hardworking Montanans. I'm urging my colleagues across the aisle to think about hard working families across this country. How they are trying to make ends meet, to think about their constituents, who depend on affordable gas prices to get to work, or drop kids off at school. I'm urging my colleagues across the aisle who say they support American energy development and they want to lower gas costs to support this bill.”

The Senate voted this week to kill the bill.