This week U.S. natural gas prices neared $10 per MMBtu - more than quadruple the 1999 price of $2.38 - as oil prices hovered just over $100 per barrel.

"This week's sky-high energy prices signal that Congress has much energy work left to do. We welcome lawmakers' attention to energy diversity and efficiency - policies we have long-supported. But domestic energy supply is a vital missing piece Congress ignores at America's cost. Congress can help prevent further damage by looking again at moratoria on domestic energy development. We strongly urge lawmakers to support legislation such as the National Environment and Energy Development (NEED) Act.

"U.S. households, manufacturers, farmers and other natural gas consumers pay dramatically more for natural gas when federal energy policy keeps restrictions on our own domestic supplies - the only industrialized nation in the world to do so. Since 1999, the cumulative increase in the nation's natural gas bill is more than $522 billion - that's $4,568 per taxpayer. America's chemistry sector has lost more than 118,000 jobs, and the manufacturing sector as a whole has lost three million jobs. If milk prices had increased at the same rate as U.S. natural gas prices, a gallon of milk would cost $11 today. Gasoline would cost $5.37 a gallon.

"Natural gas will have a prominent role in Congress's attempts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It's used for cleaner electricity generation, cleaner transportation fuels, hydrogen for fuel cells and as a key feedstock for chemistry used in products to improve energy efficiency - from wind power blades and solar panels to energy-efficient appliances, compact fluorescent light bulbs, coatings, lubricants, low-rolling resistance tires and many others. Increased access to domestic natural gas supply should be a key feature of any climate policy that Congress considers."