[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 114 (Tuesday, July 30, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H8671-H8672]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
ENERGY POLICY AND CONSERVATION ACT AMENDMENTS
Mr. SCHAEFER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 3868) to extend certain programs under the Energy Policy and
Conservation Act through September 30, 1996.
The Clerk read as follows:
H.R. 3868
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. ENERGY POLICY AND CONSERVATION ACT AMENDMENTS.
The Energy Policy and Conservation Act is amended--
(1) by amending section 166 (42 U.S.C. 6246) to read as
follows:
``authorization of appropriations
``Sec. 166. There are authorized to be appropriated for
fiscal year 1996 such sums as may be necessary to implement
this part.'';
(2) in section 181 (42 U.S.C. 6251) by striking ``June 30,
1996'' both places it appears and inserting in lieu thereof
``September 30, 1996'';
(3) by adding at the end of section 256(h) (42 U.S.C.
6276(h)) ``There are authorized to be appropriated for fiscal
year 1996 such sums as may be necessary to carry out this
part.''; and
(4) in section 281 (42 U.S.C. 6258) by striking ``June 30,
1996'' both places it appears and inserting in lieu thereof
``September 30, 1996''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Colorado [Mr. Schaefer] and the gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. Pallone]
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Colorado [Mr. Schaefer].
general leave
Mr. SCHAEFER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their
remarks on H.R. 3868.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Colorado?
There was no objection.
Mr. SCHAEFER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
(Mr. SCHAEFER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. SCHAEFER. Mr. Speaker, this bill reauthorizes certain provisions
contained in the Energy Policy and Conservation Act. Specifically, this
bill assures that if there is an energy emergency during the August
recess, the President's authority to drawdown the Strategic Petroleum
Reserve and the ability of U.S. oil companies to participate in the
International Energy Agreement without violating antitrust laws is
preserved.
It is important that the United States maintain a strong Strategic
Petroleum Reserve to protect American citizens from shutoffs in
imported oil. Similarly, the President's authority to order a drawdown
of that stored oil in an emergency must also be maintained. This bill
assures the President's drawdown authority is kept intact until the end
of the fiscal year.
This bill does not address the issue of maintaining adequate levels
of oil in the Reserve. Over the past 18 months, I have been greatly
troubled by the trend of selling oil from the Strategic Petroleum
Reserve to meet budgetary goals.
The Reserve is our first line of defense in an energy emergency. This
energy security insurance policy for which we have paid over $200
billion should not be squandered carelessly to meet short-term
budgetary objectives.
I have directed staff to work on a long-term EPCA extension which
would make it more difficult for the Reserve to be raided by people
willing to sacrifice long-term energy security for short-term budget
goals. In the meantime, this short-term extension of certain EPCA
authorities protects Americans in the event of an energy emergency and
gives us time to pass a long-term extension before the 104th Congress
adjourns.
I believe these provisions of EPCA are too important for us to leave
for August recess without reauthorizing them. While an energy emergency
which would require the Reserve to be drawn down during August is
unlikely, it is not impossible. Consider the implications of the recent
terrorist attack in Saudi Arabia on our energy security. I believe this
Nation must have the ability to use all its tools to deal with an
energy emergency so I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to support this temporary reauthorization
of the most important provisions of Energy Policy and Conservation Act,
through September 30 of this year. While I would prefer a simple
extension of EPCA--one that covered its State Energy Conservation
programs and other authorities--I support this legislation because it
ensures the United States and industry are able to fulfill their major
emergency-related responsibilities. These include planning for
international oil crises and management of the Strategic Petroleum
Reserve.
I thank Chairman Schaefer for bringing this extension to the House
floor, and I look forward to working with him in September to resolve
the remaining issues.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. SCHAEFER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I certainly am willing to work with my good friend, the
gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. Pallone], to extend this a bit further.
We will have to sit down and decide on how we are going to do this. But
we are giving the President the authority during the August recess in
order to adapt to any emergency that might exist.
[[Page H8672]]
Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back
the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Colorado [Mr. Schaefer] that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 3868.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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