[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 87 (Thursday, June 21, 2001)]
[House]
[Page H3441]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                 ENERGY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Grucci) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. GRUCCI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address a crucial issue to 
this country, an issue that many Members have taken to the floor to 
highlight, an issue that is incredibly important to not only my 
district but to the entire Nation. That issue is energy.
  America in the year 2001 faces the most serious energy shortage since 
the 1970s, and the effects are being felt in the homes of all 
Americans. For years, the White House ignored this crucial matter and 
did not act. Now, with new leadership, we have a new beginning. We have 
started a much needed dialogue on a viable new energy policy.
  My district, the First Congressional District of New York, is at the 
east end of Long Island. As we are isolated from many large power 
sources, I am here to stress the importance of improving the 
distribution of power. Distribution constraints are resulting in high 
prices for consumers. Energy is the entity that knows no boundaries and 
we should work to get power across the Nation safely, efficiently and 
productively.
  My State, New York, has worked successfully with the State of 
Connecticut in developing environmentally safe delivery alternatives 
such as a power cable beneath the Long Island Sound. It is with this 
spirit of collaboration that we can work as a region to remedy this 
growing problem. In order to move ahead with a feasible energy policy, 
we must continue to highlight and support the use of renewable energy 
sources. Such sources as wind, solar and hydroelectric power are 
crucial to producing clean and environmentally sound energy.
  I applaud President Bush and his energy task force for recognizing 
the need for renewable and alternative sources of energy. The Energy 
Policy Development Group has suggested tax incentives for electricity 
generated by renewable energy sources, which is a step in the right 
direction. We must support these technologies and the research that 
makes these discoveries possible. As we continue to expend our precious 
oil, coal and gas reserves, we must be proactive in finding ways to 
make renewable energy technology affordable, effective and abundant.
  While renewable energy is crucial to the future, we must work in the 
present to find a cleaner and more environmentally friendly way to use 
conventional fuels. We need to update our decades-old power plants so 
we can continue to produce affordable energy while protecting the 
environment for future generations. We must also continue to invest in 
clean coal technology, allowing us to burn coal cleaner and more 
efficiently.
  Nowhere is the crunch of the energy crisis felt more than at the 
pump. In some areas of my district, people are paying over $2 a gallon 
for gasoline. Hardworking, middle-class American families need relief 
from high gas prices. By reducing our country's reliance on oil for 
power needs, we can hopefully see some relief from skyrocketing gas 
prices.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to come to the table and work 
together in a bipartisan manner to curb this looming energy crisis.

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