Tim Burchett

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to voice my concerns on the rising price of diesel fuel. Price gouging by greedy oil companies is causing hardworking Americans to struggle to fill their tanks. President Trump has already called on the Department of Justice to open an investigation into this abuse.

Behind me, to my left, you will see a chart explaining just how dire this situation is for consumers. Refiners typically make a profit of around $15 per barrel, or roughly 35 cents per gallon. Today, the refiners are making $117 per barrel, or $2.78 per gallon. That is nearly an 800 percent increase, Mr. Speaker, an 800 percent increase they are making on the backs of hardworking Americans--our farmers, truck drivers, and ultimately us, the consumers. Every day we go to the market and pay more.

That is why I am introducing legislation to implement export control measures on American diesel. Export controls drive down prices while also helping farmers and keeping more money in the pockets of consumers.

That is affordability, Mr. Speaker. That is what America wants. That is what they are asking for, and dadgummit we ought to deliver it.

These companies know they can make more money selling at higher prices abroad. American companies should prioritize American consumers and keep American diesel in America.

I ask the President to please call on Congress to pass this vital piece of legislation. I don't believe Congress has the guts or the willpower to do it. But the President has proven time and time again that he and Vice President Vance do have the guts to do what is right for this country. I call on the President--I implore the President-- please, to call on Congress to pass this vital piece of legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to voice my concerns on the rising price of diesel fuel. Price gouging by greedy oil companies is causing hardworking Americans to struggle to fill their tanks. President Trump has already called on the Department of Justice to open an investigation into this abuse.

Behind me, to my left, you will see a chart explaining just how dire this situation is for consumers. Refiners typically make a profit of around $15 per barrel, or roughly 35 cents per gallon. Today, the refiners are making $117 per barrel, or $2.78 per gallon. That is nearly an 800 percent increase, Mr. Speaker, an 800 percent increase they are making on the backs of hardworking Americans--our farmers, truck drivers, and ultimately us, the consumers. Every day we go to the market and pay more.

That is why I am introducing legislation to implement export control measures on American diesel. Export controls drive down prices while also helping farmers and keeping more money in the pockets of consumers.

That is affordability, Mr. Speaker. That is what America wants. That is what they are asking for, and dadgummit we ought to deliver it.

These companies know they can make more money selling at higher prices abroad. American companies should prioritize American consumers and keep American diesel in America.

I ask the President to please call on Congress to pass this vital piece of legislation. I don't believe Congress has the guts or the willpower to do it. But the President has proven time and time again that he and Vice President Vance do have the guts to do what is right for this country. I call on the President--I implore the President-- please, to call on Congress to pass this vital piece of legislation.

Mr. Speaker, today I honor the outstanding career of my very good friend and colleague, Lieutenant Governor Randy McNally, who has spent nearly 50 years in service to the great state of Tennessee.

Randy graduated from Oak Ridge High School in 1962 and earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Tennessee College of Pharmacy in 1967. He put his degree to good use, returning to Oak Ridge and working as a pharmacist at Methodist Medical Center. Throughout his career in Tennessee politics, he continued to serve at the Medical Center until his retirement in 2010.

Elected to the Tennessee State House in 1979, Randy found his calling in financial policy, first as a state representative and then as a state senator. During his 26 years on the Senate Finance, Ways and Means Committee, including a decade as chairman, Randy was instrumental in creating a balanced budget and maintaining Tennessee's ``Triple-A'' credit rating.

Throughout his tenure, Randy has been widely recognized for his outstanding public and community service, earning numerous honors from respected organizations for his leadership and commitment to the community.

While Randy has devoted much of his life to serving the people of Tennessee, his greatest source of pride is his family. He and his wife, Janice, have two adult daughters, Melissa and Maggie, and three grandchildren, Haley, Morgan, and Trent. As Randy retires from public service, I join his constituents and all Tennesseans in expressing my sincere gratitude for his decades of dedicated service and wishing him and his family a happy and fulfilling retirement.