Press Releases

Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement today regarding the continued increase in oil and gas prices:

“From trucking to manufacturing, and from mining to local government, the negative effects of high energy prices are being felt across the board.  In February alone, the price per gallon of unleaded gasoline rose by 12 cents. Last week, for the first time since October 2008, the price of crude oil hit $100 per barrel. With many families already struggling to make ends meet and millions of Americans out of work, rising fuel prices are only making things worse. The cost of heating homes and filling up our vehicles is straining the pocketbooks of families and businesses across the 9^th District.

“Recent turmoil in the Middle East, especially Libya, only reinforces the importance of tapping into our domestic energy resources. I support an ‘all of the above’ energy policy. This nation has been blessed with an abundant supply of natural resources - including coal, oil and natural gas - but excessive government regulations and moratoriums are preventing us from developing these assets. Yesterday, the Obama Administration issued the first deepwater drilling permit since last year’s Deepwater Horizon explosion. While a step in the right direction, this action falls short and is long overdue.

“If we want to increase our energy security and create good paying jobs, the Obama Administration must now remove barriers to domestic production. No source of energy should be off the table. We must decrease our dependence on foreign resources, prevent energy prices from soaring, and give our economy a chance to grow.”

According to AAA, the average price for unleaded gasoline in Virginia is $3.26 per gallon; diesel comes in at $3.61 per gallon.

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