[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 135 (Thursday, September 26, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S11417]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            FOREIGN OIL CONSUMPTION: HERE'S WEEKLY BOX SCORE

  Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, the American Petroleum Institute reports 
that for the week ending September 20, the U.S. imported 7,296,000 
barrels of oil each day, 16,000 more than the 7,280,000 imported during 
the same week a year ago.
  Americans relied on foreign oil for 53 percent of their needs last 
week, and there are no signs that the upward spiral will abate. Before 
the Persian Gulf War, the United States obtained approximately 45 
percent of its oil supply from foreign countries. During the Arab oil 
embargo in the 1970s, foreign oil accounted for only 35 percent of 
America's oil supply.
  Anybody else interested in restoring domestic production of oil--by 
U.S. producers using American workers? Politicians had better ponder 
the economic calamity sure to occur in America if and when foreign 
producers shut off our supply--or double the already enormous cost of 
imported oil flowing into the United States--now 7,296,000 barrels a 
day.

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