[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 109 (Tuesday, July 31, 2001)]
[House]
[Page H4865]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SUPPORT OF THE PRESIDENT'S ENERGY PLAN
Mr. OSBORNE. Mr. Speaker, I recently heard a member of the Committee
on Resources make an interesting statement. This individual said that
the United States currently has only 3 percent of the known oil
reserves in the world. The truth is that we really do not know. We do
not know whether it has 3 percent or 5 percent or 15 percent or 20
percent, because for the last 10, 15, 20 years we have done absolutely
no exploration. We have had no energy plan.
Mr. Speaker, think about what corporation, what military unit, what
athletic team would proceed without a plan and without knowing what its
assets were. This is precisely what we have done here in the United
States.
I would really encourage people to support the President's energy
plan because, number one, it provides a blueprint where there has been
none, a plan of action that provides conservation practices and
development of alternative fuels. It also provides for exploration
which allows us to know what our assets and limitations are. In the
event of an international crisis, it will be critical that we know what
is there.
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