[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 135 (Wednesday, October 10, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S10404]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             ENERGY POLICY

  Mr. THOMAS. Madam President, I want to talk this morning a bit, as we 
have for some time, about energy. Energy, of course, is something we 
have talked about for some time--a good long time, as a matter of fact. 
Our experiences last summer in California emphasized the need for some 
changes in our energy policy so that we have more stability and 
reliability in energy. Of course, we also became aware of some of the 
things we must do in terms of energy, and we have worked on it for a 
very long time.
  Now, since September 11, I think we find some very compelling 
additional reasons that we need to do some things with energy. 
Obviously, we have not had an energy policy that we need to have in 
place over the years, and that is what we are seeking to do--to develop 
energy policy.
  Partly because, I suppose, of the lack of a policy and a real 
direction where we want to go over time, we have become very dependent 
on overseas oil sources. We are nearly 60 percent dependent on OPEC and 
others. So now, in terms of some of the uncertainty in the Middle East 
and around the world, I think we find ourselves with more concern about 
where we need to be in terms of energy.
  We have at least two compelling reasons, it seems to me, that make 
energy development and energy security even more important. One is to 
support our military activities. We have to have the energy to do that. 
The other is that we are talking about a stimulus for the economy, 
about building our economy. Obviously, fuel and power and energy are 
key to that, in whatever means they are used. So I believe we find 
ourselves now with even more reason to move to developing an energy 
policy that will ensure we have the energy necessary for all the needs 
we have.
  We have talked before about the need for research so we can find 
better ways to produce energy, so that we can find better ways to 
conserve our energy. Those things are possible, and we can do them. We 
have talked more about how we find diversity in a policy so we don't 
become dependent on one source of energy--and that we can look toward 
nuclear--whether it be renewable, gas, or coal, and to have diversity 
that helps strengthen those sources.
  We have talked a good deal about renewables. That is obviously 
something we need to pursue. Most important of all, I imagine now as we 
look at where we are, is production. We need to ensure we can have 
domestic production, and that we can increase our domestic production, 
so we become less dependent upon the supply from overseas.
  So I believe very strongly that we had compelling reasons to deal 
with energy before, and certainly September 11 has added to the 
necessity for us to do that. We have worked hard in the Energy 
Committee, of which I am a member, to respond. We have had hearings, we 
had marked up a title in our energy bill, and we are moving forward on 
that bill that was quite broad.
  In the meantime, the House has passed an energy bill which has a good 
deal of the things in it about which we have talked. So they moved 
forward with that over in the House. It has great support from labor 
unions and from many environmentalists, and it certainly has strong 
support from the administration. That bill is passed and available for 
us to deal with now.

  Unfortunately--or fortunately--there has been some change in what we 
are doing. The chairman of the committee has indicated that he has been 
asked to not have any more committee activities, and there will be a 
bill put together, apparently, by the majority leader to bring before 
us. Unfortunately, we have talked about this before and have not 
arrived, I don't believe, at any commitment as to when that will be 
done and how it will be done. Of course, some have considerable concern 
that there would not be input from all of the folks in the Senate. 
There is some concern about that. I believe what we need more than 
anything is the assurance that there will be an energy bill before we 
adjourn.
  There are a number of things that are very important to us. One is 
airline security. I think it is very important that we do that. We are 
also working on changing the rules and the law on terrorism so that our 
agencies can work more efficiently and our law enforcement and others 
can do that. We are working on a stimulus for the economy in the 
Finance Committee, and I think that has to be one of the high-priority 
items. We need to do our appropriations, which is our normal duty and 
one that needs to be moving along.
  So we have a full plate. But I believe strongly that energy now--
particularly because of the threats of the overseas intervention--
becomes one of the items we must add to our list to complete. I am 
hopeful that changes that apparently have been suggested will result in 
yet some way for us to get on the floor with the issues we think are 
terribly important for energy--to get the bill out that we can work on 
so we can develop and have an energy policy that will be supportive of 
the economy and supportive of our war on terrorism. I think it is 
necessary we do that.

  Madam President, I urge my colleagues to find a way to bring together 
the needs of this country, supported by the White House, supported by 
both sides in this body, and already has been supported by the House, 
and that prior to finishing our work, we complete work on an energy 
policy that will meet this country's needs.
  Madam President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. REID. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.

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