[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 40 (Thursday, March 21, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S2642]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 HOW MUCH FOREIGN OIL BEING CONSUMED BY UNITED STATES? HERE'S TODAY'S 
                            WEEKLY BOX SCORE

  Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, the American Petroleum Institute reports 
that, for the week ending March 15, the U.S. imported 7,145,000 barrels 
of oil each day, 752,000 barrels more than the 6,393,000 barrels 
imported during the same period a year ago.
  Americans now rely on foreign oil for more than 50 percent of their 
needs, and there are no signs that this upward trend will abate.
  The increasingly dangerous U.S. dependency on foreign oil must be 
addressed by those who care about restoring domestic production of 
oil--by U.S. producers using American workers.
  The American people should consider the economic calamity that will 
occur if and when foreign producers shut off our supply, or double the 
already enormous cost of imported oil flowing into the U.S.--now 
7,145,000 barrels a day. We must not delay in seeking to solve this 
troubling problem.

                          ____________________