[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 46 (Friday, March 29, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H3175]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     THE UNITED STATES MUST MINIMIZE ITS DEPENDENCE ON FOREIGN OIL

  (Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, 5 years after the Persian Gulf 
war, the United States still imports 9 million barrels of oil. In fact, 
our Nation is more dependent on foreign oil than ever before. More than 
50 percent of our oil is imported, and about 20 percent comes from the 
Persian Gulf. While we may never completely eliminate our dependence on 
foreign oil, we must minimize our reliance on foreign sources from the 
volatile Middle East. We should look more toward our neighbors and 
trading partners in the Western Hemisphere, like Venezuela, which has 
made significant investment in the United States and recently opened 
its oil industry to investment by U.S. companies.
  Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to move toward a policy that 
encourages domestic oil and gas exploration and production, to ensure a 
vibrant and healthy economy.

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