U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole co-sponsored a bill that passed the Senate this week, calling for a suspension of deposits of domestic crude oil into the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
Dole said, "Temporarily halting deposits to the reserve can provide some much-needed relief at the pump because of an increased supply of oil available for refinement, and it also sends a strong signal to the market that our government will take action."
The legislation has been also been approved by the U.S. House and will go to President Bush for his signature.
The SPR was established in 1975 to provide crude oil during times of severe supply disruptions. It currently holds more than 701 million barrels, or more than a 90-day supply.
ENGLISH ONLY BALLOTS
U.S. Rep. Walter B. Jones has cosponsored the American Elections Act, which would require all ballots for federal elections be printed only in English.
The bill does include an exemption in jurisdictions where translations of Native American or Alaska Native dialects are needed.
"It is important for people living in the United States to speak and understand English. A common language is what makes a nation one," Jones said. "Multi-lingual ballots not only divide American voters by language and cause needless confusion at the polls, they impose an unnecessary financial burden on state and local governments."
A 2006 poll by Zogby International indicated that more than 60 percent of Americans want all U.S. election ballots to be printed in English only, according to Jones' office.