FAIRFIELD, N.J. — The Textile Care Allied Trades Association (TCATA) is joining in an effort led by the Coalition for Affordable American Energy (CAAE) to call for Congress to stay in Washington until it votes on legislation that opens off-shore drilling, enables oil-shale conversion and aids other supply-enhancing measures.Congress is scheduled to begin its August recess at the end of this week, which would leave the energy crisis unresolved until after Labor Day, TCATA says. The Republican leadership in both houses of Congress has called for the enactment of energy-supply legislation now, and has called on the majority to keep Congress in session until it acts.While fuel prices soar, Congress is in the midst of a debate over energy. Many representatives and senators want Congress to adopt policies that will remove Congressionally imposed restrictions on domestic oil exploration and drilling, while others oppose the relaxation of the current restrictions, TCATA says.The goal of TCATA and CAAE is to inundate House and Senate offices with constituents’ requests to stay in Washington until action is taken on measures to increase the supply of domestic energy. TCATA urges that all calls be made immediately for maximum impact.For the names and contact information of representatives, visit https://forms.house.gov/wyr/welcome.shtml and type in your ZIP code. For senators, visit http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm. The main Capitol switchboard can be reached at 202-224-3121.TCATA also urges those in the industry to call House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (202-225-0100) and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (202-224-2158), as they control the legislative schedules in their respective houses of Congress.Swamping the Senate and House offices with calls today and tomorrow will help establish a rational national energy policy that will get the United States out of the mess created by the restrictive policies of the past 20 years, TCATA says.TCATA also encourages employers to provide employees with information on this effort and permission to use company phones to call their senators and representatives.
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