[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 50 (Friday, April 22, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E733-E734]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 6, ENERGY POLICY ACT OF 2005

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON-LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 20, 2005

  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, today I speak with mixed 
emotions, while passage of a comprehensive energy bill is important, 
there is still work to be done on the bill before us. Please do not 
misunderstand me, there are good aspects to the bill. For example, the 
bill provides for much needed advances in energy efficiency, renewable 
energy, and nuclear. While I understand the rationale behind a 
structured rule, it is unfortunate, that all the amendments offered 
could not be ruled in order. This would have allowed for much needed 
debate in our attempt to solve our Nation's energy crisis. In our 
efforts to pass a comprehensive bill, we must not overlook the 
importance of keeping dialogue open on all fronts.
  I would like to take a moment to mention my essential amendments that 
were not ruled in order. My first amendment would have required that a 
report be submitted, every two years, to Congress by the Secretary of 
the Interior, in consultation with other appropriate Federal agencies, 
assessing the contents of natural gas and oil deposits at existing 
drilling sites off the coast of Louisiana and Texas. This amendment 
should have been ruled in

[[Page E734]]

order because new supplies are vital to long-term economic stability 
and to current and future employment. Exploration of the Western Gulf 
of Mexico will permit access to one of our largest sources of oil.
  Among other things my second amendment was designed to ensure that 
the large fluctuations in the price of transportation fuels will not 
continue to pose significant impediments to budget planning for 
consumers, businesses, and Federal, State and local governments. 
Despite the fact this amendment was not ruled in order, it is crucial 
that there be established a sense of the Congress that the Secretary of 
Energy, acting through the Administrator of the Energy Information 
Administration, should commence an immediate investigation on the 
causes of high gasoline prices in the United States and, in 
collaboration with the petroleum industry and the Congress, develop a 
solution to such prices.
  Finally, my third amendment would have given Historically Black 
Colleges and Universities, HBCU, the opportunity to develop new and 
existing programs in the area of alternative energy technologies. In 
our Nation's effort to become more energy independent, it is critical 
that we allow for as much research and development as possible. African 
Americans have made outstanding contributions to the energy industry 
and I see no reason not to allow them to make even more contributions 
now.
  Mr. Speaker, while I support many aspects of the bill, I oppose the 
rule.

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