[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 29 (Wednesday, March 6, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H1721]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  RECOGNIZING THE FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE END OF THE PERSIAN GULF WAR

  (Mr. BONILLA asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. BONILLA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember the sacrifice and 
achievement of our Persian Gulf war veterans.
  This month marks the fifth anniversary of the end of the war which 
liberated the small country of Kuwait and ensured access to the 
region's energy supplies.
  Unfortunately, we have done little to reduce the threat of energy 
dependence.
  Five years later the U.S. dependence on foreign oil has grown; 
America now imports 52 percent of its annual oil supply.
  We import 9 million barrels of oil a day to satisfy demand.
  For a country that in on the cutting edge of technology, there is no 
excuse for a lack of energy preparedness which places American lives at 
risk. U.S. producers have the capability to tap into an estimated 60-
year supply of oil and natural gas that lies undiscovered in America. 
And they can do this without threatening the environment. Five years 
ago we learned a lesson--we need to open the doors to energy 
independence to ensure our freedom from foreign tyrants' threats.

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