[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 48 (Tuesday, March 25, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E575]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ON THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2004

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                               speech of

                          HON. ROSA L. DELAURO

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 20, 2003

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill concurrent 
     resolution (H. Con. Res. 95) establishing the congressional 
     budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2004 
     and setting forth appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal 
     years 2003 and 2005 through 2013:
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong opposition to this rule. 
Budgets are about priorities. They are about values. But this budget 
does not reflect our priorities or our values. Instead, it shows an 
irresponsible disregard for working families and priorities the 
American people have made clear.
  One example of that disregard in the Republican budget is its 
potential impact on the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. While this 
budget does not explicitly instruct the Resources Committee to open 
ANWR for oil exploration, it is clear that the Republican majority 
intends to use its reconciliation instructions to the Resources 
Committee to move forward with the Administration's drilling proposal.
  ANWR is one of the finest examples of wilderness left on the planet, 
with a full range of largely undisturbed ecosystems. The tens of 
thousands of caribou, polar and grizzly bears, birds, wolves, and fox 
that call this place home should not be sacrificed for a mere 180-day 
supply of oil, which is all the United States Geological Survey says we 
will likely recover. Even oil companies like British Petroleum, who 
have given up on the prospect of drilling in the Refuge, understand the 
relatively small amounts of oil ANWR is expected to yield and the high 
cost of removing it.
  This budget should invest in renewable energy sources, not drilling 
for oil in the pristine wilderness. Yet my amendment to protect the 
Refuge in the Budget Committee was defeated on a party-line vote.
  Mr. Chariman, this budget does not reflect the priorities or values 
of the American people. I urge my colleagues to oppose this rule.




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