[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 124 (Thursday, September 26, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1669]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  U.S. SHOULD REDUCE DEPENDENCE ON FOREIGN OIL BY REDUCING OIL DEMAND

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                         HON. CIRO D. RODRIGUEZ

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 25, 2002

  Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Mr. Speaker, the events of September 11 highlight the 
danger in continuing to ignore our oil dependence on other countries, 
especially our dependence on Middle East oil. More than 51 percent of 
the oil we use is imported. Our Nation is in a very vulnerable 
position, at the mercy of unstable regimes in the Middle East and other 
volatile regions. Our dependence on oil has many negative ramifications 
including the threatening of our environment and our economy.
  Our oil dependency places a heavy burden on our environment. It 
contributes significantly to making the United States the world's 
largest emitter of carbon dioxide, responsible for one-fourth of the 
world's total global warming pollution. Our high demand for oil also 
pressures us to drill in our remaining unspoiled wilderness such as 
Utah's Redrock canyon county and the Arctic Wildlife Refuge. Our land, 
water, wildlife and the livelihood of coastal communities are also 
threatened by oil spills, an inevitable consequence of oil 
transportation.
  Our oil dependency is also very costly to our economy. The United 
States spent $106 billion on imported crude oil and petroleum products 
in 2000. That is equivalent to almost one third of the total U.S. trade 
deficit. Over the past 30 years, Americans have transferred $1.16 
trillion of their wealth to oil-producing countries.
  As we develop our energy policy, we must ensure that it is one that 
can both reduce oil use and its burden on our environment and economy. 
Shifting the drilling for oil from one country to another will not 
resolve our oil crisis. We need to reduce our oil dependence by 
utilizing innovative technologies that focus on reducing oil use such 
as gasoline-electric hybrid vehicles which get double the mileage of 
today's cars. We must also encourage smart growth in our cities instead 
of suburban sprawl so that communities are more liveable with less 
driving.
  The only effective way to reduce dependence on foreign oil, and at 
the same time protect our environment, is to reduce our oil demand. If 
we lower our oil consumption, more of America's wealth will stay in 
this country.

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