[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 123 (Wednesday, September 25, 2002)]
[House]
[Page H6562]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           ENSURING AMERICA'S NATIONAL AND ECONOMIC SECURITY

  (Mr. BARTLETT of Maryland asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. BARTLETT of Maryland. Mr. Speaker, America and the world must 
overcome the threat posed by Saddam Hussein's continuing effort to 
control or disrupt supplies of Arab oil. Successful completion of the 
House-Senate conference on a national energy bill is imperative to 
ensure America's national security and economic security.
  Americans are 5 percent of the world's population, we use 25 percent 
of the world's oil production, and we produce 30 percent of the world's 
goods and services. We are the most energy-efficient and productive 
nation on Earth. However, America has only 2 percent of the world's 
known reserves of oil. America imports almost 60 percent of our oil, up 
from 32 percent in 1992 and 34 percent during the last Arab oil 
embargo. In 2002, Americans have already paid Saddam Hussein $2.3 
billion for oil we need to run our economy and our military.
  Since 1970, oil production in the United States has declined, with 
only a tiny blip up from Alaska's Prudhoe Bay. Many experts agree that 
U.S. oil production will continue to decline, no matter what we do in 
terms of drilling.
  A comprehensive energy bill with advances in conservation, efficiency 
and alternative and renewable forms of energy will strengthen America's 
economy and national security and lessen our dependence upon oil from 
Saddam Hussein.

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