[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 112 (Friday, August 3, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1558-E1559]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              SECURING AMERICA'S FUTURE ENERGY ACT OF 2001

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                               speech of

                           HON. DENNIS MOORE

                               of kansas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, August 1, 2001

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 4) to 
     enhance energy conservation, research and development and to 
     provide for security and diversity in the energy supply for 
     the American people, and for other purposes.

  Mr. MOORE. Mr. Chairman, we must reduce our nation's dependence on 
foreign oil. And while I believe our nation needs a comprehensive 
energy policy as a matter of national security, we also have an 
obligation to ensure that this need is met in a manner that does not 
jeopardize our financial security. This bill takes a balanced approach 
to meeting our nation's energy security needs. But, it fails to pay for 
any of these proposals which have a cost of $34 billion.
  H.R. 4 contains numerous provisions that I have supported in the past 
and will continue to support in the future under fiscally responsible 
circumstances. In fact, H.R. 4 includes a provision based upon a bill 
that I introduced during both the 106th and 107th Congresses that would 
extend the section 29 tax credit for the production of unconventional 
fuels such as coalbed methane. My version of this legislation [H.R. 
794] was modified slightly and included in the Ways and Means portion 
of H.R. 4. I have worked for months to ensure H.R. 794's inclusion in a 
comprehensive energy measure. And while I would like to be able to vote 
for this provision, I cannot in good conscience support final passage 
of a bill that includes $34 billion in tax expenditures that are not 
offset with comparable spending reductions. This is fiscally 
irresponsible. Such action threatens to spend money from both the 
Social Security and Medicare Trust funds on which the seniors in my 
district rely.
  Further, as a member of the House Renewable Energy Caucus, I have 
supported measures to encourage and increase the use of renewable and 
alternative energy sources. This bill includes tax incentives for 
energy efficiency programs and renewable energy sources such as wind 
and solar production that I would like to vote for, and I would support 
if these incentives were paid for and handled in a fiscally responsible 
manner. As well, H.R. 4 contains tax incentives for domestic production 
from marginal wells that I have supported in the past and that would 
increase our national energy supply.
  Last month I supported funding for the Low Income Home Energy 
Assistance Program [LIHEAP]. I would like to support the LIHEAP 
reauthorization included in H.R. 4. I made a promise to senior citizens 
and other people in my district that I would not spend Social Security 
and Medicare Trust funds. That's a promise I intend to keep.
  Two months ago, we were hailing surpluses ``as far as the eye can 
see.'' There was even concern that we not pay down our national debt 
too quickly. Today, we are watching these surpluses disappear before 
our very eyes.
  Two days ago, the House passed an appropriations bill that spent $1.3 
billion more than the budget resolution. I voted against the bill 
because in order to do this, we will have to borrow from other priority 
programs or from the Medicare and Social Security surplus funds.
  If Congress adopts this new policy of borrow and spend it not only 
endangers the Medicare and Social Security surpluses, it places us back 
on the road to deficit spending. We must not travel down this road 
again.
  It's time we made some tough choices. This Congress made a commitment 
to the American people that we would not vote to spend one single penny 
of the Medicare and Social Security Trust Funds. We must honor that 
commitment. Spending restraint, fiscal responsibility, and honoring our 
commitments do not come about by good intentions, but by resolute 
actions.

[[Page E1559]]

  Today, I reluctantly vote against this energy package because it 
falls to provide any offsets to pay for its provisions. This is a 
particularly difficult vote for me because this bill contains a 
proposal I authored and many other good provisions.
  In an effort to honor our commitments to ensure financial 
responsibility, I will adhere to the levels in the budget resolution 
enacted by a majority of this Congress. I will oppose any efforts that 
reduce revenues without offsets.
  The expenditures contained in H.R. 4 are not accounted for in the 
budget resolution and, despite sound energy policy this bill promotes, 
it busts the budget and threatens the Social Security and Medicare 
Trust funds. I urge my colleagues to honor their commitment to preserve 
this country's fiscal integrity; I urge my colleagues to either find a 
way to pay for these tax cuts or to vote no on H.R. 4.

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