[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 132 (Monday, September 29, 1997)]
[House]
[Pages H8086-H8087]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




EXTENDING CERTAIN PROGRAMS UNDER THE ENERGY POLICY AND CONSERVATION ACT

  Mr. CRAPO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(H.R. 2472) to extend certain programs under the Energy Policy and 
Conservation Act.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 2472

       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) in section 166 (42 U.S.C. 6246) by striking ``1997'' 
     and inserting in lieu thereof ``1998'';
       (2) in section 181 (42 U.S.C. 6251) by striking ``1997'' 
     both places it appears and inserting in lieu thereof 
     ``1998''; and
       (3) in section 281 (42 U.S.C. 6285) by striking ``1997'' 
     both places it appears and inserting in lieu thereof 
     ``1998''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Idaho [Mr. Crapo] and the gentleman from Texas [Mr. Hall] each will 
control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Idaho [Mr. Crapo].
  Mr. CRAPO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this bill which reauthorizes 
certain provisions contained in the Energy Policy and Conservation Act 
for 1 fiscal year. This is an important bill because it assures the 
President's authority to draw dawn the Strategic Petroleum Reserve in 
an energy emergency and preserves the ability of the U.S. oil companies 
to participate in the International Energy Agreement without violating 
antitrust laws.
  I believe that a 1-year-only reauthorization of these provisions 
remains the appropriate course of action as long as the Committee on 
Appropriations continues to look at these oil reserves as a source of 
revenue. For the past 3 years, the members of the Committee on Commerce 
have opposed the sale of oil from the reserves to meet budgetary goals. 
However, in less than 3 years three sales have been authorized, and the 
fourth sale is currently being considered.
  The Strategic Petroleum Reserve and the International Energy 
Agreement are critical elements of America's energy security plan. 
Therefore, it is important that they be reauthorized. However, until we 
stop using the reserve in a manner for which it is not intended, I 
believe we should subject these programs to an annual reauthorization.

                              {time}  1345

  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. HALL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I of course am pleased to support H.R. 2472, which 
reauthorizes a key section of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act 
for 1 year.
  This bill has been handled in a bipartisan manner and was reported 
from the Committee on Commerce on a voice vote. I know of no objection 
to it from this side of the aisle. I support the reauthorization of 
EPCA because it will ensure that the United States and industry are 
able to fulfill their respective duties in any or all oil-related 
emergencies. We are not unaware of those emergencies. Recent events in 
the Middle East have underscored once again how quickly circumstances 
can change, and the need for the United States to be self-sufficient 
during periods of instability.
  I want to thank the gentleman from Virginia, Chairman Bliley, and the 
gentleman from Colorado, Mr. Dan Schaefer, and the gentleman from 
Idaho, Mr. Crapo, for bringing this very important bill to the House 
floor.
  The Democrats on the Committee on Commerce strongly support the 
efforts to ensure that the Strategic Petroleum Reserve is used for the 
intended purposes, and not, as some have attempted, sold off for 
deficit reduction.
  EPCA is very important to our country's economic and energy security, 
and I am pleased to support this legislation.
  Mr. DAN SCHAEFER of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, the bill reauthorizes 
provisions of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act relating to the 
Strategic Petroleum Reserve and U.S. participation in the International 
Energy Agreement for one fiscal year. These provisions, which will 
expire September 30 absent this reauthorization, assure that, if there 
is an energy emergency, the President's authority to

[[Page H8087]]

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 for another year.
  As I stated at the markup, because of their importance to U.S. 
national energy security I believe these programs should not go 
unauthorized. At the same time, I believe requiring them to be 
reauthorized annually is appropriate as long as oil from the Reserve 
continues to be sold for budgetary purposes. It is my hope that when D-
O-E completes its review of S-P-R polices we can work with the 
administration and the appropriators to develop a coherent and 
consistent policy regarding the future of the Reserve.
  Finally, there are several conservation related programs contained in 
EPCA and which were discussed at the subcommittee hearing that are not 
included in the bill we are considering today. I intend to work with 
interested parties to reauthorize these programs in the neat future.
  Mr. HALL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. CRAPO. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Upton). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Idaho [Mr. Crapo] that the House suspend 
the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 2472.
  The question was taken.
  Mr. CRAPO. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a 
quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not 
present.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Upton). Pursuant to clause 5 of rule I 
and the Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion 
will be postponed.
  The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.

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