Updated

President Bush has prodded Congress to allow oil drilling in offshore waters and in the Alaskan wildlife refuge, citing "tough economic times" for the American people.

Bush went to the Energy Department Friday, where he met with his senior economic advisers to discuss soaring prices for gasoline and crude oil. Bush said one answer is to increase supply in this country by tapping "the vast potential" of crude oil reserves on offshore lands and in Alaska as well as oil shale.

He said Congress must address this issue before it goes home.