[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 30 (Thursday, March 7, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H1779]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1015
          THE IMPORTANCE OF A HEALTHY DOMESTIC ENERGY INDUSTRY

  (Mr. POSHARD asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. POSHARD. Mr. Speaker, the question this morning is, Do we think 
it is smart to import over half the oil which fuels the economy of this 
Nation? Is it smart not only economically, but militarily, to be that 
dependent on foreign oil? And is it smart to continue doing that when 
we have domestic oil producers such as the hundreds of small companies 
operating in my district and across Illinois, across this Nation, who 
could help balance the budget with increased domestic production?
  I am joining my colleagues in the bipartisan Oil and Gas Forum to ask 
some of these questions over the next few weeks as we try to focus on a 
sound energy policy for this Nation which recognize the resources we 
have here at home, recognizing the importance of jobs created by a 
healthy domestic energy industry.
  We are talking about Main Street America, from Casey to Carmi in my 
district, from Pennsylvania to California in this country, small 
businesses employing a dozen or so people who want to do business in an 
environmentally responsible way to help our economy, not making it more 
dependent on forces outside our control.

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