[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 113 (Thursday, September 21, 2000)]
[House]
[Page H7937]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  RELEASE STRATEGIC PETROLEUM RESERVE

  (Mr. SHERWOOD asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. SHERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, we are in a full blown energy crisis. Due 
to the lack of a coherent national energy policy, we are facing a 
winter which many in the Northeast will be forced to choose between 
heating their homes and buying food. This is a terrible dilemma that we 
saw in the Northeast last winter, and we are about to do it once again.
  The United States' dependence on foreign oil has resulted in record-
high crude oil prices, resulting in adverse economic impacts on our 
Nation's farmers, independent truck drivers, small business owners, and 
homeowners.
  I have a letter here from Bernie Lapara at Lapara Oil in Carbondale, 
Pennsylvania, detailing the hardships faced by his customers.
  Mr. Speaker, the solution is simple. We need more production and 
supply, but right now we could ease the impact by drawing down on the 
Strategic Petroleum Reserve to get over this winter heating oil crisis 
in the Northeast.
  Mr. Speaker, I say to the President, please act now. Release the 
reserve for the sake of America's families and business people.

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