[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 154 (Wednesday, October 29, 2003)]
[House]
[Page H9987]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            ENERGY PLAN VITAL FOR AMERICA'S HOMELAND DEFENSE

  (Mr. STEARNS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. STEARNS. Mr. Speaker, with national security foremost on the 
minds of the American people, there is one thing we can do to 
simultaneously protect our shores and boost the economy: quickly 
approve a comprehensive energy plan.
  With the President's support, the House passed a responsible energy 
plan last Congress that will free us from the undue burden of 
dependence on foreign oil and, of course, bring new jobs to parts of 
the country that sorely need them.
  Ignoring this impending energy crisis will do nothing to solve it. 
ANWR exploration could free us from trading with leaders like Saddam 
Hussein, who used oil money to develop weapons of mass destruction. 
Increased domestic production is an indispensable component of any 
energy plan.
  Mr. Speaker, during World War II, our great nations bonded together 
and made personal sacrifices to make this world a safer place to live.

                              {time}  1015

  Now, again, we are at war, a Nation at war, and just like in the 
past, we need to come together. We can take one giant step forward by 
implementing the House's energy plan.

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