[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 37 (Tuesday, April 9, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E474]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 INTRODUCTION OF HOUSE RESOLUTION ON UNITED STATES ENERGY INDEPENDENCE

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                          HON. GEORGE W. GEKAS

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, April 9, 2002

  Mr. GEKAS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to announce the introduction of 
legislation addressing an issue of longstanding concern to me: 
America's dependence on foreign sources of oil.
  The resolution I am introducing tonight calls on President Bush to 
remind those oil exporting nations who are our allies that decisions 
they have made recently to restrict crude oil supply in the world 
market, in accordance with requests made by the OPEC cartel, adversely 
affect the national security of the United States and the world 
economy. These countries must be informed of the affects of their oil 
export cutbacks.
  As OPEC and non-OPEC countries collude to boost oil prices they 
actually harm the world economy and, in the long run, their own bottom 
lines. It is estimated that every 10-cent a gallon increase of gasoline 
at the pump in the United States costs motorists $13 billion annually. 
This spring, gasoline prices have jumped from an average of about $1.00 
to over $1.30 nationwide. This price spike alone is putting a drag on 
the U.S. economy. If some estimates hold true, the price Americans face 
at the pump may rise to an average of $1.60 per gallon this summer. 
This economic burden will hit Americans in the wallet like a new $78 
million tax! Oil producers must be reminded that any slowing of the 
U.S. economy will simply lessen the demand for their product and will 
negatively impact their corporate bottom line in the end.
  I am troubled most that many of the oil-producing countries that 
collude to boost prices at the American gas pump are actually close 
American allies. Countries like Mexico, Norway, Saudi Arabia, the 
Unites Arab Emirates and Venezuela have gotten together and 
collectively bargained to reduce their output to boost prices. 
Furthermore, these countries had the audacity to do this at precisely 
the time that the United States economy was struggling to recover from 
the effects of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. To those Arab 
allies we fought to defend and liberate a decade ago, we must say, 
``stop gouging us at the pump.'' Moreover, we expect you to make up any 
shortfall in oil exports to our country resulting from Saddam Hussein's 
latest political gimmick--a 30 day boycott of exports. To our non-OPEC 
allies around the world, such as Mexico, we say the path to your 
country's economic progress lies with us and not with OPEC. We also ask 
you to desist in oil output restrictions in which you recently engaged 
at the request of the OPEC cartel and that you help make up any 
shortfall from Iraq oil restrictions as well.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge the House of Representatives to pass my 
resolution in order to send a message to OPEC that this body will not 
accept practices that hold our economy hostage.
  My resolution also urges the Senate to act and pass comprehensive 
energy legislation, such as H.R. 4, which was agreed to by the House of 
Representatives on August 2, 2001. A comprehensive national energy 
policy like that proposed in H.R. 4 will help make the United States 
more energy self-sufficient and less dependent on foreign sources of 
oil.
  Mr. Speaker, this country's best course of action lies in becoming 
independent of foreign oil. The OPEC foreign cartel has operated beyond 
the scope of our law and has worked in contravention of free market 
forces for decades. The Senate can help to get us closer to the goal of 
energy independence by passing H.R. 4. In the meantime, our allies must 
become independent of OPEC. I urge our allies to recognize the fact 
that it is in their best interest to have a strong U.S. economy and 
that reducing production or boosting petroleum prices only acts to hurt 
that economy. The oil-producing countries of the world have an 
obligation to stabilize the world price of oil so that there is a 
continued demand for their product. If they do not do this, their 
economies will suffer along with ours.

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