[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 104 (Tuesday, July 24, 2001)]
[House]
[Page H4437]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




THE PRESIDENT'S ENERGY POLICY WILL STEER AMERICA SAFELY THROUGH ENERGY 
                                 CRISIS

  (Mr. PETERSON of Pennsylvania asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PETERSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, America needs more energy. 
The West needs more electricity. The East will need heating oil this 
winter, just like it did last year. The entire Nation needs more 
natural gas.
  We saw natural gas prices quadruple last winter. We saw seniors and 
low-income families struggling to heat their homes and still afford 
groceries. It is likely to happen again this year.
  We must conserve energy. Conservation efforts have already made a big 
difference. They are part of the reason gasoline prices have been 
dropping.
  Yes, we must rely more heavily on clean, renewable fuels. Yes, we 
must build our energy future around emerging technologies. Yes, we must 
produce more energy. We must produce more oil. We must produce more 
natural gas. Our cars still run on gasoline, and many of our homes are 
heated with natural gas and heating oil. Virtually all of the new 
generating plants built in the last 10 years in this country use 
natural gas.
  Next week, the House will consider a comprehensive package that does 
all of this. The bill implements the President's natural energy policy. 
It creates a blueprint for steering us safely through the energy 
challenges we face now and the energy challenges we will face this 
winter and next summer.
  There is only one sure way to prevent spikes in energy prices that 
hurt us all: ample supply.

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