[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 35 (Thursday, March 14, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H2226]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF PERSIAN GULF WAR

  (Mr. LUCAS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. LUCAS. Mr. Speaker, 5 years after the Persian Gulf war our Nation 
still imports over 9 million barrels of oil a day. What's worse--oil 
imports have hurt domestic production and taken away U.S. jobs. We've 
lost over 500,000 American jobs since the early 1980's because of oil 
imports.
  Our Nation's growing reliance on foreign oil is not just an issue 
that affects the oil patch--it's something that everyone should be 
concerned about.
  If we want to lessen our reliance on oil imports, then we need to 
take steps to stimulate production of oil and gas right here in the 
United States. In order to boost production, we need to look at 
reducing unnecessary regulations that cripple U.S. production.
  There are indeed, Mr. Speaker, many alternatives to oil dependency. 
Educating people about those alternatives will be a key to a stronger 
American oil and gas industry.

                          ____________________