[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 3 (Thursday, January 29, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S205]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        U.S. FOREIGN OIL CONSUMPTION FOR WEEK ENDING JANUARY 23D

  Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, a troubling aspect in assessing all aspects 
of maintaining a strong U.S. national security is one that receives 
scant attention--the fact that the United States is more deeply 
dependent upon foreign countries to supply most of America's energy 
needs. The situation today is worse than ever before in our history.
  I began in 1996 my reports to the American people every week in which 
I stated the precise amount of oil imported by the U.S. from foreign 
countries. Some of these countries are openly hostile to U.S. 
interests. I make these reports to emphasize the extent to which the 
U.S. has become perilously dependent on them.
  I investigated this issue a decade ago when I presided over several 
hearings as the then chairman of the Agriculture Committee. In my 
present capacity as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee 
we have held hearings; more are scheduled this year.
  While the Administration acknowledges that U.S. oil imports are a 
national security concern, nothing has been done by the Administration 
to resolve U.S. dependency on foreign oil.
  Now, Mr. President, a few up-to-date statistics: The American 
Petroleum Institute reports that for the week ending January 23, the 
U.S. imported 7,776,000 barrels of oil each day, 64,000 barrels fewer 
than the 7,840,000 imported each day during the same week a year ago.
  While this is one of the rare weeks when Americans imported slightly 
less oil than a year ago, Americans still relied on foreign oil for 55 
percent of their needs last week, and there is no sign 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.
  Which raises the inevitable question: is anybody else interested in 
restoring domestic production of oil--by U.S. producers using American 
workers?
  It is argued that America should use up foreign oil reserves before 
tapping into our the remaining U.S. domestic supply. But I submit, Mr. 
President, that economic calamity will occur in America if and when 
foreign producers shut off our supply--or double the already enormous 
cost of imported oil flowing into the U.S.--now 7,776,000 barrels a 
day.
  Mr. President, the Foreign Relations Committee will continue its 
examination of U.S. dependency on foreign oil in 1998. I shall also 
continue to report to the Senate--and to the American people--on a 
regular basis regarding this increasingly dangerous trend.

                          ____________________