[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 72 (Wednesday, May 23, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E903]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION--SERVING THE NEEDS OF THE ENERGY INDUSTRY

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                         HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 23, 2001

  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my 
extreme disbelief that the Bush Administration has once again turned 
its back on the American people and sided with the interests of big gas 
and oil. I would think that after calling for more environmental 
rollbacks than any other Administration in the 21st century, the Bush 
Administration would not want to harm the environment more than it 
already has when writing its energy policy. I would also think that 
after neglecting the needs of working class families and pushing a tax 
cut that benefits the wealthiest one percent of tax payers, the Bush 
Administration might take into account the needs of the American people 
when writing its energy policy. But as we can see from the Bush Energy 
Plan, I would be wrong to think these things. As we can see from the 
Bush Energy Plan, I would be wrong to think that this Administration 
has any plans or desire to represent the interests and needs of the 
American people.
  For 117 days, the Bush Big Oil Team met behind closed doors to write 
an energy policy that it claimed would provide a long-term solution to 
America's energy woes. Unfortunately, it is clear that the 
Administration's energy proposal is nothing more than a hand tool of 
the already profiting energy industry. The only long-term plan the Bush 
Big Oil Team came up with is one that fills the pockets of the 
Administration's closest friends, the oil and gas companies. Even more, 
the plan neglects to address the need for immediate consumer relief. 
Americans are paying more for energy today than they have ever paid. It 
is time to provide them with relief and the Bush Energy Plan does not.
  One month ago, I came to the floor and asked, ``What exactly is the 
Bush energy plan?'' Today, I come to the floor and now ask, ``How is 
the Bush energy plan going to work?'' The energy plan released by the 
Administration last week relies heavily upon drilling in some of our 
country's most pristine areas and does not focus on the exploration of 
renewable energy sources. If we do not consider a long-term energy plan 
that includes the exploration of renewable resources, then we are just 
wasting our time.
  From drilling in the ANWR to drilling off of Florida's Panhandle, the 
Administration is once again neglecting the responsibility we have to 
protect our environment for nothing more than a short-term solution. It 
is widely accepted that roughly 3.2 billion barrels of economically
  Finally, the Administration's energy plan fails to address the 
immediate need for consumer relief. In the past three weeks, the 
average cost of gas per gallon has increased by more than 9.5 cents to 
an all time high of $1.77 a gallon! Some drivers in the U.S. are paying 
more than $2.00 a gallon. At a time oil company profits are up more 
than 40 percent from this time last year, consumers are paying more at 
the pumps and in their homes. In failing to address this lopsided 
consumer-supplier relationship, the Administration has endorsed the oil 
industry's gauging of gas prices.
  Mr. Speaker, there is little question that America is faced with an 
energy crisis of an enormous magnitude. Our country needs to look at 
new ways of creating energy. If current trends continue, Americans will 
use more energy in the coming years than ever. The Administration's 
idea to drill wherever an oil well will fit, however, will simply 
continue to fill the pockets of oil and gas industry executives and 
never actually solve our current crisis. If we are going to get serious 
about solving our energy woes, then we need to pursue research and 
development programs that examine energy efficiency, renewable energy, 
and types of energy, including solar, biomass, hydrogen, geothermal, 
and hydropower. At the same time, America's energy policy cannot 
neglect the responsibility Americans have to the environment. I will 
not support the exploration of a new energy policy at unnecessary costs 
to the environment and public health. It is time to get serious about 
America's energy policy. So far, however, the Bush Administration has 
done nothing more than turn its back on the American people.




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