[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 37 (Tuesday, April 9, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2388-S2389]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           U.S. ENERGY POLICY

  Mr. BUNNING. Mr. President, I rise today to talk about the current 
state of energy in our country.
  We desperately need an energy policy that will address the future of 
our energy use. Now is the time for Congress to get serious about 
passing a comprehensive energy bill.
  I believe that in order to make progress on this energy bill we need 
to balance conservation and production.
  Many of us in the Senate understand that a balanced, sensible energy 
policy must boost production of domestic energy sources as well as 
promote conservation. The energy bill before us takes good steps toward 
striking this balance.
  I look forward to the tax ideas coming from the Finance Committee 
that will further promote conservation and the use of alternative 
fuels.
  However, I still believe that this bill remains too weak on 
production. More must be done to increase our domestic production if 
the Senate is going to pass serious energy legislation. Increasing our 
production of energy is absolutely critical in reducing our dependence 
on foreign oil.
  Right now we depend upon foreign nations and the Middle East for 
nearly 60 percent of our country's oil supply. As most of us know, 
gasoline prices have been increasing for the past several weeks. This 
causes me serious concern especially since the upcoming summer months 
are when so many families take to the road for their annual vacation.
  There are many reasons that gasoline prices are rising. One reason is 
that OPEC countries have cut their oil production since the end of 2000 
by a total of 5 million barrels of oil per day. Another is the 
increasing volatility in the Middle East.
  Gasoline prices have increased more than 25 cents in just the last 
few weeks. Higher gas prices will place a strain on the American 
families' budget.
  They raise the cost of goods and services, and place an even greater 
burden on our economy just as it is showing signs of life.
  The need to increase our own production of energy is especially true 
after Saddam Hussein's announcement yesterday that Iraq will cut off 
oil exports for the next month to protest Israel's actions on the West 
Bank. He is also calling for an OPEC embargo on all oil sales to 
America.
  Before this announcement, the United States indirectly imported 
nearly 780,000 barrels of oil a day from Iraq. Saddam's threat pushed 
the price of oil and gas even higher. I think we need to ask ourselves 
whether we want to continue our dependence on other countries led by 
people as dangerous and unpredictable as Saddam Hussein.
  Our national security has never been more important, and we must 
strengthen our energy independence to protect ourselves from madmen 
like Hussein and the politics of the Middle East.
  We are at war, and we continue to face economic uncertainty. Energy 
is a key factor in both of these struggles, and this means that the 
Senate absolutely must take a cold, hard look at ANWR.
  The issue is too important to play games with. It is too important 
for politics. Our Nation and our security are at risk.
  The rules have changed. We need to stop playing around on this issue 
and to have a straight up or down vote on ANWR: No bluffs, no 
posturing, whoever has the most votes wins.
  ANWR is the most promising domestic source of energy that we have. I 
believe it is indispensable to helping reduce our dependence on foreign 
oil.
  Of course there are some in the Senate who are desperate to stop us 
from opening up ANWR. However, with more than 10 billion barrels of oil 
recoverable from ANWR, I think we all need to take a clear-headed look 
at it.
  ANWR has the potential to produce over 1 million barrels a day. That 
is enough oil to replace the volume we currently import from Saudi 
Arabia or Iraq for more than 25 years. The oil that could be recovered 
from ANWR could fuel Kentucky's oil needs for the next 80 years.
  Drilling in ANWR provisions in the energy bill would make a huge 
difference for our domestic consumption and would amount to an 
essential step toward ensuring our national security. We have no 
choice. We must lessen our reliance on Saddam Hussein and others in the 
Middle East for our oil by exploring ANWR.
  Today the United States produces less than we did in World War II. In 
1970, our oil imports constituted only 17 percent of our domestic 
consumption. That is three-and-a-half times less than what we import 
today. This dangerous trend must be reversed.
  Furthermore, recent advances in technology will enable us to extract 
oil in ANWR in an environmentally sensitive way.
  America's environmental safeguards are the toughest in the world. 
This means that the drilling operations will be conducted under the 
most comprehensive environmental regulations.
  We all want to protect our environment. If we do not do a better job 
developing domestic energy, we will continue to rely on foreign oil, 
oil from other nations. These nations have weaker environmental rules 
than we do. Under these weaker safeguards, the damage to the 
environment will be even greater than if we use ANWR.

  I also think that our domestic production should be increased through 
the use of clean coal technology. I am proud to come from a coal state. 
The energy bill provides a good start at increasing research and 
development and encouraging the use of clean coal technology.
  The proposed tax package will also further increase incentives for 
the use of clean coal technology. Clean coal is

[[Page S2389]]

important to increasing our domestic energy production in an 
environmentally sensitive way. We have over 275 billion tons of 
recoverable coal reserves. This is nearly 30 percent of the world's 
total coal supply. That is enough coal to supply us with energy for 
another 270 years.
  Because of research advances, we now have the know-how to better 
balance conservation with the need for increased production. Let's use 
this ability to come up with a good piece of energy legislation.
  Yesterday's announcement by Saddam Hussein should remind everyone how 
vulnerable our economy and national security are to arbitrary decisions 
made by dangerous foreign dictators.
  For over two decades, we've hemmed and hawed about the need for 
America to follow a sensible, long-term energy strategy. If the threat 
of Saddam Hussein putting a gun to our head--again--does not help us 
pass a bill, I do not know what will.
  I hope we are on our way to producing a balanced comprehensive energy 
bill that increases production and conservation and makes a difference 
for our national security. I hope that we can move quickly to pass an 
energy bill that will make our economy and national security stronger. 
The time is now.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Nevada.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, are we on the energy bill at this time?
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. We are not.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask for the regular order.

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