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   (Mr. CHABOT asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute.)

   Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I realize that Secretary Richardson has his hands full trying to find our nuclear secrets from Los Alamos that were apparently lost when they were moved to protect them from the out-of-control fire that was actually started by our own government.

   Nevertheless, the Secretary and other high-ranking administration officials need to acknowledge and respond to what has become a critical problem throughout the country. Working families in Cincinnati, my district and elsewhere, are facing skyrocketing prices at the gas pump, and they need relief now.

   Earlier this year, Secretary Richardson responded to rising gasoline prices by saying, we were caught napping. We got complacent. Earlier this week, White House Press Secretary Joe Lockhart said, but we are in the busy season where prices generally go up a bit. Well, they are closing in on $2 a gallon in Cincinnati. That is not a bit; that is a lot.

   President Clinton has substantial executive powers that can be used to send a strong message to the price-fixing OPEC cartel. He has chosen not to use them. It is time we got serious about this and let us do something about the gas prices in this country.

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