110 HCON 402 IH: Recognizing the historical significance of U.S. House of Representatives 2008-07-31 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

IV 110th CONGRESS 2d Session H. CON. RES. 402 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 31, 2008 Mr. Peterson of Pennsylvania submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources CONCURRENT RESOLUTION Recognizing the historical significance of the discovery of oil and the birth of the petroleum and natural gas industries on the banks of Oil Creek, Venango County, near Titusville, Pennsylvania on August 27, 1859, and designating the year 2009 as the Sesquicentennial of Oil.

Whereas, on August 27, 1859, Colonel Edwin L. Drake drilled the world's first commercial oil well along the bank of Oil Creek, Venango County, near Titusville, Pennsylvania, striking oil at 69½ feet; Whereas the world's modern Oil and Gas industries were thus born, resulting in oil booms, technological and business innovations, environmental challenges, and population shifts; Whereas Americans became the pioneers of the world's oil industry, creating the first oil tank car, oil pipeline, methods of refining oil, new products for illumination and lubrication and other industry innovations; Whereas the entrepreneurial spirit fostered by the discovery of oil in Pennsylvania led to the development of major industries across the Nation, making petroleum a lynchpin of modern industry and finance; Whereas the development of petroleum and petroleum-based products from transportation fuels to modern pharmaceuticals have helped make the world as we know it possible; Whereas the concurrent development of the natural gas industry has improved the daily lives of citizens around the world; Whereas everyday Americans use oil-based products like gasoline, medicine, plastic, cosmetics and others to enhance their daily lives; Whereas oil continues to play a vital role in the Nation's energy economy, providing employment and careers for thousands of Americans; Whereas approximately 1.8 billion barrels of crude oil are produced annually in 31 of the nation's 50 States, including Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming; Whereas 146 refineries operate in 33 States, including Alabama, Alaska, Arkasas, California, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming; Whereas everyday hundreds of oil museums and oil-related historic sites across the country celebrate 150 years of American ingenuity and innovation; Whereas, in 2004, the United States Congress designated a 708-square mile area in northwest Pennsylvania as the Oil Region National Heritage Area; Whereas the 150th anniversary of Drake Well provides Americans the opportunity to discuss our Nation's oil legacy and the complex issues of energy use and consumption that we face today; and Whereas the recognition of the year of 2009 as the sesquicentennial of the birth of the oil and natural gas industries will reaffirm our understanding of the significance of the discovery made near Titusville, Venango County, Pennsylvania on August 27, 1859: Now, therefore, be it

That Congress— (1)recognizes the significance of the discovery of oil in Pennsylvania in 1859; (2)requests that the President issue a proclamation recognizing the Sesquicentennial of Oil and the accomplishments of the petroleum and natural gas industries; and (3)encourages residents of all ages to explore the facts of oil history and the legacy this commodity and all its products, innovations, and challenges represent.