[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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