WASHINGTON, DC – Friday, Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11) delivered impassioned remarks on the U.S. House of Representatives Floor, moments before he voted against the “Inflation Reduction Act”. Rep. Pfluger spoke against the disastrous effects this legislation would have on working families, small businesses, and American energy producers.

Watch Pfluger’s remarks here, or read a transcript below. 

As prepared for delivery:

“M. Speaker,

“I rise to speak against the so-called Inflation Reduction Act, a piece of legislation that weakens American businesses, increases the cost of energy for families, and funds a new, 87,000-person IRS army to audit low-and-middle-income families

“Here’s a pretty good rule of thumb for this legislation: If you are one of Biden’s chosen green special interest groups – then you get a handout paid for by American taxpayers.

“But for small, independent American Energy Producers in the Permian Basin…your reward for keeping the lights on is a new, poorly conceived “natural gas tax” that will raise the costs of everything and give China an edge on our American manufacturers.

“I offered an amendment to strike this provision. Democrats voted it down in the Rules Committee – voting against U.S. energy and for foreign energy.

“The Democrat response is tax credits for the rich, a slush fund for loans to their favorite green companies, and more regulatory red tape to drive up the energy costs for Main Street businesses and families.

“Families are having to decide to either fill up their tank or pay for everyday essentials at the grocery store because of high gas prices due to President Biden’s policies.

“But the crowning achievement of this measure won’t be inflation being reduced, it will be making America more dependent on our adversaries for hydrocarbons, more dependent on Chinese Medical Manufacturing and Supply Chains, and more dependent on China for critical minerals.

“If the Democrats’ goal is to reduce baseload reliable power sources and increase our dependency on foreign nations, they’re succeeding. If their goal is to create regulatory red tape to drive up energy costs for Main Street businesses and families, they’re succeeding.

“If their goal is to help American families and small businesses, they are absolutely failing.