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5/13/08                                                                      202-224-2841

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SUNUNU CONTINUES FIGHT TO CUT RECORD-HIGH GAS PRICES

Votes for amendment to suspend oil shipments to the nation’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve

WASHINGTON, DC – United States Senator John Sununu (R-NH) today (5/13) joined his colleagues in passing a bipartisan amendment to suspend oil shipments to the United States Strategic Petroleum Reserve in a continued effort to help ease record-high gasoline prices.

“When oil prices are topping $120 per barrel, it makes no sense for the Federal Government to continue shipping oil to the nation’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve. We need to give consumers a break at the pump and reduce the pressure on global oil demand, and this measure does exactly that,” said Sununu, who also supports rolling back the federal gas tax for the coming summer months. “These are helpful steps, but we need to do more. Legislation to extend renewable tax credits and new domestic production will help reduce our dependence on energy imports, and I have co-sponsored bills to do both.”

The Senate passed the Reid amendment to the flood insurance bill by a vote of 97-1. Under the measure, shipments to the Reserve would be suspended and could not resume earlier than 30 days after the President notifies Congress that the average price of a barrel of oil in the United States for the most recent 90 day period is less than $75. The flood insurance bill later passed, also with Sununu’s support.

Additionally, Sununu joined his colleagues on April 29 in writing to President Bush to request that the Department of Energy temporarily stop deposits of domestic crude oil into the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to combat high gas prices.