[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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