[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 157 (Sunday, November 9, 1997)]
[House]
[Pages H10567-H10568]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




EXTENDING CERTAIN PROGRAMS UNDER THE ENERGY POLICY AND CONSERVATION ACT

  Mr. DAN SCHAEFER of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the 
rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 317) providing for the 
agreement of the House to the Senate amendment to the bill, H.R. 2472, 
with an amendment.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              H. Res. 317

       Resolved, That, upon the adoption of this resolution, the 
     bill H.R. 2472, to extend certain programs under the Energy 
     Policy and Conservation Act, be, and the same is hereby, 
     taken from the Speaker's table to the end that the Senate 
     amendment to the text of the bill be, and the same is hereby, 
     agreed to with an amendment as follows: In lieu of the matter 
     proposed to be inserted by the Senate, insert the following:

     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 ``September 
     30, 1997'' both places it appears and inserting in lieu 
     thereof ``September 1, 1998''; and
       (3) in section 281 (42 U.S.C. 6285) by striking ``September 
     30, 1997'' both places it appears and inserting in lieu 
     thereof ``September 1, 1998''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Colorado [Mr. Dan Schaefer] and the gentleman from Texas [Mr. Hall] 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Colorado [Mr. Dan Schaefer].


                             General Leave

  Mr. DAN SCHAEFER of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent 
that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and 
extend their remarks and include extraneous matter on the resolution 
under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Colorado?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. DAN SCHAEFER of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time 
as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, the bill we will be sending back to the other body 
reauthorizes a provision of the Energy and Conservation Act related to 
the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and the U.S. participation in the 
international agreement for 1 fiscal year.
  These provisions, which expired September 30, assure that if there is 
an energy emergency, the President's authority to draw down 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 when the House passed this bill earlier this year, 
because of their importance to the 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.

                              {time}  2330

  It is my hope that when DOE completes its review of the SPR policies, 
we can work with the administration and the appropriators to develop a 
coherent and consistent policy regarding the future of the reserve.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HALL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  (Mr. HALL of Texas asked and was given permission to revise and 
extend his remarks.)
  Mr. HALL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I will not have any speakers. I rise 
in support of the bill. I would like to have a colloquy with the 
gentleman from Colorado, Mr. Dan Schaefer.
  I thank the chairman for his leadership and for his hard work to 
ensure that the Energy Policy and Conservation Act is reauthorized. 
EPCA provides the authority for the U.S. to cooperate with their 
international allies during world oil crises, to alleviate shortages in 
calm markets.
  Mr. DAN SCHAEFER of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. HALL of Texas. I yield to the gentleman from Colorado.
  Mr. DAN SCHAEFER of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from 
Texas [Mr. Hall] for his work and agree that we must have EPCA in 
place, particularly in light of the ongoing events in the Middle East.
  Mr. HALL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, reclaiming my time, I would like to 
propose to my good friend from Colorado also that while this simple 
extension of existing authority is a good thing, we need to take a 
closer look early next year at the need to update EPCA's antitrust 
provisions.
  Mr. DAN SCHAEFER of Colorado. If the gentleman would continue to 
yield, I thank the gentleman again for his remarks, and I agree that 
the Committee on Commerce and other affected committees should take a 
closer look at this issue to ensure that our national interests are 
fully protected and we can meet our treaty obligations.
  Mr. HALL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Colorado, 
Mr. Dan Schaefer. I think we ought to get on top of this sooner rather 
than later next year, when we have time to consider the matter 
thoroughly. We ought not to wait until EPCA expires next September. 
Maybe by then we will be comfortable providing for a longer-term 
reauthorization.
  Mr. DAN SCHAEFER of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I certainly agree with the 
comments of my colleague. We have worked very closely together in the 
past, and I want to continue to do that, particularly on this issue and 
any other issue that deals with our committee. But we have to ensure 
that we have energy policy in this country that is going to be best for 
the American citizens.
  Mr. DINGELL Mr. Speaker, I rise with a sense of profound 
disappointment to speak reluctantly in support of H. Res. 317, and only 
because we have no better alternative. Notwithstanding disturbing 
hourly reports from the Middle Ease, Members of the House has been 
presented with an unpleasant and wholly unnecessary choice. We can 
either vote for this barebones, better-than-nothing reauthorization of 
the most essential parts of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act--our 
nation's first line of defense in dealing with an international oil 
crisis--or we can take our chances that the Act, which has already been 
allowed to lapse, will not have to be deployed during the next 2 months 
while the Congress is out of session.
  Since 1984, the United States has sought to persuade our 
international partners to graduate from a cumbersome and outdated oil 
allocation plan to a more market oriented ``coordinated stock 
drawdown'' policy under which each country would release petroleum 
stocks to forestall any shortages. This type of approach, which was 
tried out during Desert Storm, shows great promise and has finally been 
accepted by our allies and the International Energy Agency.
  Neither of these policies, however, can work without the cooperation 
and assistance of both U.S. and international oil companies. In times 
of severe supply shortages or market instability, the I.E.A. needs real 
time information about the location and movement of oil stocks and 
refined produces with only these companies can provide. EPCA was 
drafted with an appreciation of these need for partnership,

[[Page H10568]]

and included from the beginning a ``limited antitrust defense'' to 
ensure companies are not prosecuted for actions they are requested to 
take by government during an oil emergency.
  This is exactly the type of voluntary cooperation Congress should be 
encouraging. For three years now, the Administration and the U.S. oil 
industry have been asking Congress to update EPCA's antitrust 
provisions to permit them to assist the U.S. government and the I.E.A. 
in carrying out a coordinated stock drawdown. The Senate's bill 
includes language supported by both the Administration and industry.
  Unfortunately, H. Res. 317 does not address the antitrust issue. 
Hearings have been held, testimony has been provided, and no objection 
has been voiced to the type of changes the Administration has proposed 
and the Senate has adopted. This is an entirely unnecessary omission, 
and represents a failure by the House and its leadership to properly 
discharge their responsibilities. Let no one be mistaken--in the event 
that international oil markets suffer a severe shock in the coming 
months, the I.E.A. will be hamstrung in its ability to temper the 
impact on consumers and financial markets because U.S. oil companies 
will not be able to participate fully. This is a mistake which could 
have been averted had the necessary homework been done at the proper 
time.
  While I support H. Res. 317 and urge members to vote for the 
resolution, I do so with a sense of regret and measure of anger at the 
choice with which this body has been presented.
  Mr. HALL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Colorado 
for his leadership on this issue, and I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. DAN SCHAEFER of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, 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. Dan Schaefer] that the House suspend the 
rules and agree to the resolution, H.R. 317.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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