Washington, D.C. -- House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi and Caucus Chairman James E. Clyburn held a press stakeout this morning after the Democratic Caucus meeting to discuss the Republican budget that will be brought to the House floor today and the Democratic plan to achieve energy independence. Below are Pelosi's remarks:

Today, once again the Republicans will bring to the House floor, a budget that is out of balance and out of whack in terms of its priorities and the debt that it will heap on future generations.

How can this budget be a statement of national values when it gives tax cuts to the wealthiest people in our country and it increases the cost of student loans to our students, when it gives those tax cuts and it takes away funding for health care for the poorest children in America?

It is a budget that is immoral – the religious community has drawn a line in the sand, against the Republican budget. Democrats have better ideas: the Congressional Black Caucus presented a budget plan and also the Spratt-Democratic substitute. These are budgets that will bring us in balance in terms of our values and reducing the deficit.

Democrats are committed to no deficit spending, pay-as-you-go. We will not heap mountains of debt onto future generations. Republicans are increasing the deficit every minute of every day they are here.

Five years ago, the Vice President of the United States conducted his secret meetings with the energy industry to produce America's energy policy, which has now taken us to more than $3 a gallon for gasoline. It’s bad policy; it's about the culture of corruption in Washington D.C., and the American people are paying the price.

Democrats have a better idea. We know that America can do better, and last week, we launched our initiative: ''Energizing America: Farmers Fueling our Energy Independence.'' Democrats know that our country can be energy independent and we intend to achieve it within 10 years.

Just think if the Vice President had taken that course of action five years ago, how much better of we would be. Energy is a national security, economic, and an environmental issue. Our initiative sends America's energy dollars to the Midwest, not the Middle East and it creates jobs. It's about the future.

The contrast between Democrats and Republicans on energy could not be greater. Secret meetings with energy companies has led to $3 a gallon gasoline prices and rising. Instead, cheaper, greener, all-American energy can be found with our initiative: 'Energizing America: Farmers Fueling our Energy Independence.'