[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 67 (Thursday, May 19, 2005)]
[House]
[Page H3681]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 REDUCE OUR DEPENDENCE ON FOSSIL FUELS

  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, if we want to reduce the threat of 
terrorism against the United States, we must rust reduce America's 
dependence on foreign oil. Nothing threatens our country and our 
security more than our reliance on oil from repressive Middle East 
regimes like Saudi Arabia and Libya.
  Of the 21 million barrels of oil consumed by the U.S. each day, 14 
million are imported from other countries. Most are imported from the 
Middle East, where as we know democracy is not pervasive. This lack of 
democracy allow the authoritarian leaders of many Middle East countries 
to pocket billions of dollars each year from American oil purchases.
  So while the leaders of these countries are becoming increasingly 
wealthy, the rest of their people fail to benefit from the oil 
proceeds. Sadly, this economic disparity allows the powerful elite to 
tighten their hold over their people.
  This repressive power structure allows the conditions which give rise 
to terrorism, resource scarcity, extreme poverty, and lack of education 
to run rampant. It is quite clear that we need to decrease our 
dependance on foreign oil in order to keep America safe from the threat 
of terrorism.
  But there is a right way, and there is a wrong way to accomplish this 
goal. Many Members of Congress have suggested, today in fact, that we 
can simply drill for gas and oil off the coasts of our shores, or in 
places like the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska to solve our 
energy crisis.
  Unfortunately this suggestion is just plain wrong. In fact, drilling 
for oil in the United States would do little to immediately reduce our 
dependance on foreign oil, because it would take at least a decade to 
get a drilling operation up and running in ANWR or off our coasts, and 
even then there is no telling whether there is usable oil.
  That does not sound like a comprehensive energy strategy to me. No. 
Drilling for oil just is not the answer. We need to accept the fact 
that fossil fuel is a thing of the past. To solve the current energy 
crisis and to prepare for a secure and successful future, we need to 
invest in conservation and renewable and efficient sources of energy.
  For example, providing tax incentives for the construction of energy 
efficient buildings and manufacturing energy efficient heating and 
water heating equipment could save 300 trillion cubic feet of natural 
gas over 50 years.
  By failing to take advantage of renewable energy technologies, we are 
continuing to promote our national insecurity by providing billions of 
dollars each year to repressive regimes.
  That is why I have reintroduced the smart security resolution, H. 
Con. Res. 158. SMART is a sensible multilateral American response to 
terrorism.
  SMART will help secure America for the future by preventing the 
threat of terrorism, by reducing nuclear stockpiles, eliminating the 
possible use of nuclear weapons through diplomatic means, and 
establishing a new Apollo project to secure America's energy 
independence.
  Many Members of Congress understand the importance of reducing our 
dependance on foreign oil to ensure our national security, and that is 
why 49 of my colleagues signed on as original cosponsors to the SMART 
security resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, our Nation's energy and foreign policies are 
interconnected. One cannot address one without addressing the other. 
That is why SMART security promotes a new Apollo project that will 
ensure our Nation's energy security within the next 10 to 15 years.
  If we fail to address this problem, we will only ensure the 
continuation of deep disparities of wealth in the Middle East. These 
misguided policies will encourage future acts of terrorism, which will 
encourage future warfare.
  And speaking of warfare, do we know for sure that our reason for 
attacking Iraq was not to take control of Iraqi's oil? Until we are 
independent of our need for foreign oil, we will always be suspect. It 
is time to get serious about our reliance on foreign oil, which will 
lead directly to a smarter security strategy.

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