[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 82 (Tuesday, June 15, 2004)]
[House]
[Page H4140]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             SMART SECURITY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Woolsey) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, no one disagrees that to keep our country 
secure, we must become independent of foreign fuels, while at the same 
time we must control the rising energy costs here in our country. Where 
the disagreement arises is how this should be done.
  Today, the House leadership brought up four energy bills in an 
attempt to look like they are addressing our energy needs. From 
rehashing a bill that already passed the House not once but twice, that 
focuses on huge giveaways to big oil and gas companies to a bill that 
would open up drilling in the arctic refuge, this is nothing more than 
a sham. None of these bills do anything to promote an energy policy 
that will keep us secure from terrorism and ensure that our energy 
needs are met. In fact, opening up the arctic refuge to drilling would 
increase global oil reserves by only .31 percent. That is right, only 
31/100ths of 1 percent. That is less oil than the United States 
consumes in 6 months.
  There has to be a better way, a more intelligent way, a way not 
rooted in ruthless expediency, but in the values that we hold dear. And 
there is. I have introduced legislation to create a SMART security 
platform for the 21st century. SMART stands for Sensible Multilateral 
American Response to Terrorism. One of the components of SMART is a 
real strategy for energy independence, especially support for the 
development of renewable energy sources. Nothing threatens national 
security more than reliance on Middle Eastern oil.
  This reliance cannot be met with drilling in the arctic refuge or 
with giveaways to big oil and gas companies. We must invest in 
renewable energy and in conservation. We must increase energy 
efficiency. Only through decreased dependence on oil will we make 
ourselves more secure.
  Along with decreasing our dependence on foreign oil, we must stop the 
spread of weapons of mass destruction. Keeping the American people safe 
must be our highest priority. On that point the President and I agree, 
but we must avoid equating our security with aggression and military 
force. Just because one has a hammer, not every problem is a nail. The 
United States possesses the world's largest hammer in the form of its 
mighty military, but some situations require a more delicate touch. 
SMART security calls for aggressive diplomacy, a commitment to nuclear 
nonproliferation, strong regional security arrangements, and vigorous 
inspection regimes. The United States must set an example for the rest 
of the world by renouncing the first use of nuclear weapons and the 
development of new nuclear weapons.
  We must maintain our commitment to existing international treaties 
like the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, the Comprehensive Test Ban 
Treaty, the Biological Weapons Convention, and the Chemical Weapons 
Convention. We must support and adequately fund programs like the 
Cooperative Threat Reduction Program, which works with the Russian 
Federation and the states of the former Soviet Union to dismantle 
nuclear warheads, reduce nuclear stockpiles, and secure nuclear weapons 
in Russia. And we must replicate these programs in other troubled 
regions like North Korea and Iran.
  Not every country will proactively choose to give up its nuclear 
program, and we can provide the incentives if we choose. In the long 
run, negotiating with other countries will keep us much safer than 
thinking that we can scare them into submission.
  The Bush doctrine has been tried. It has failed. It is time for a new 
national security strategy. SMART security defends America by relying 
on the very best of America, our commitment to peace, our commitment to 
freedom, our compassion for the people of the world, and our capacity 
for multilateral leadership. SMART security is tough, it is pragmatic, 
and it is patriotic. SMART security is smart, and it will keep America 
safe.

                          ____________________