[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 43 (Wednesday, March 28, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S3049]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         OIL EXPLORATION IN THE ARCTIC NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

  Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, my colleague from Alaska, Senator 
Murkowski, and I just attended a press conference concerning 
exploration in the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife 
Refuge.
  In attendance were: James P. Hoffa, International Brotherhood of 
Teamsters; Michael Sacco, Maritime Trade Department, AFL-CIO; Terry 
O'Sullivan, Building Trades Department; Martin J. Maddaloni, United 
Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe 
Fitting Industry; Joseph Hunt, International Association of Bridge, 
Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers; Frank Hanley, 
International Union of Operating Engineers; Larry O'Toole, Marine 
Engineers' Beneficial Association; James Henry, Transportation 
Institute; and Michael McKay, American Maritime Officers Service.
  I ask unanimous consent that the statement made by Michael Sacco of 
the Maritime Trades Department of the AFL-CIO be printed in the Record 
for my colleagues to read. It offers great insight into the reasons why 
working men and women throughout the country support oil and gas 
exploration in the coastal plain.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

               Statement of Michael Sacco, MTD President

       With increasing energy problems throughout the United 
     States, Americans are looking for new ways to meet the 
     growing demand for energy products and ensure the continued 
     economic expansion we have enjoyed over the past decade.
       Only one location promises to help America meet its energy 
     needs while providing good-paying jobs to American workers--
     the Arctic National Widlife Refuge.
       By opening ANWR, the United States can increase domestic 
     oil production, reduce our reliance on foreign sources of 
     oil, and create hundreds of thousands of new jobs for 
     American workers.
       ANWR will be explored and drilled by American workers--the 
     oil transported through U.S.-built pipelines--refined and 
     distributed by domestic facilities--and its by-products used 
     by U.S. energy producers and U.S. consumers.
       These jobs will help keep the economic engine of this 
     country running.
       Many of our brothers and sisters in maritime labor will 
     crew the growing fleet of environmentally safe, double-
     hulled, U.S.-flagged tankers that will carry the oil from 
     Alaska.
       These vessels will be American-owned--built by Americans in 
     American shipyards--and serviced and repaired in American 
     yards.
       In times of national emergency, the U.S. Merchant Marine is 
     the first to enter the war zone to deliver supplies. 
     America's military depends on the ability to project its 
     power anywhere in the world.
       That means we need sealift which is capable of quickly 
     transporting fuel and supplies across thousands of miles.
       As we learned in Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm, 
     U.S.-flag ships, American seafarers employed on those ships, 
     and the American shipyard workers that build the vessels, are 
     vital parts of our sealift capability.
       Opening ANWR to development also will enable our U.S.-flag 
     Merchant Marine to grow and help expand our shipyard 
     industrial base--both of which serve valuable military 
     purposes.
       We've shown that opening ANWR will be done in a 
     responsible, environmentally sound way.
       Since the opening of Alaska's North Slope, nature and 
     development have safely co-existed. And today's technology 
     makes it possible to produce oil in a less-invasive and more 
     environmentally friendly manner.
       The Maritime Trades Department stands with the Building 
     Trades, major oil producers, the business community and all 
     the members of JobPower in calling on Congress to open ANWR.
       America will benefit for years to come.

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