[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 101 (Tuesday, July 23, 2002)]
[House]
[Page H5096]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              TIME TO SEND AN ENERGY BILL TO THE PRESIDENT

  (Mr. SHIMKUS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to also welcome Captain 
Struecker by saying ``Airborne All the Way'' and ``Rangers Lead the 
Way.''
  Mr. Speaker, I rise to talk about a provision in the energy bill that 
would greatly impact my district. Both the House and Senate versions of 
this energy bill contain a provision that would allow small oil 
refiners of 75,000 barrels a day or less 75 percent expensing of 
capital cost associated with complying with EPA's heavy duty diesel 
regulations.
  The Premcor Wood River Refinery, located just outside my district, 
recently announced that it would be closing its doors, laying off over 
300 employees because the cost to comply with these regulations is too 
high. This year the refinery capacity in Illinois will be at 889,000 
barrels a day, which is 150,000 barrels less than 2 years ago. Combine 
that with the fact that no new refinery has been built in the U.S. in 
25 years and that the number of refineries has been cut in half in the 
last 20 years and the problem only worsens. This creates an even 
tighter supply. A small fire or mechanical problem that forces a 
refinery to shut down for even a day has a drastic impact on the price 
of gasoline.
  Illinois has faced job loss and unstable gas prices as we wait for 
Congress to pass an energy bill that provides some relief for the small 
independent refineries of our country. Mr. Speaker, it is time to send 
an energy bill to the President.

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