[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 132 (Tuesday, October 18, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2119]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              GASOLINE FOR AMERICA'S SECURITY ACT OF 2005

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. BETTY McCOLLUM

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 7, 2005

  Ms. McCOLLUM of Minnesota. Mr. Speaker, as our nation continues to 
reel from the tragic effects of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, we need to 
have an honest debate about our nation's energy policy and dependency 
on foreign sources of oil. The recent natural disasters along the Gulf 
Coast not only revealed the failures of our federal emergency plans, 
they also exposed the vulnerability of our nation's refineries and oil 
and gas pipelines. A comprehensive energy policy that promotes 
efficiency and invests in alternative energy is desperately needed. The 
proof is at the pump--consumers are facing soaring prices on the road, 
and record heating costs will await them at home this winter. The U.S. 
Department of Energy estimates that home heating prices will experience 
the biggest annual increase in three decades. In my state of Minnesota, 
the largest natural gas utility is projected to charge 77 percent more 
than last year.
  Unfortunately, the bill before us today appears to reflect the wishes 
of special interests, not the reality facing ordinary Americans. This 
Republican bill promotes consumption and increases pollution but does 
nothing to lower the cost of gasoline, reduce our dependency on foreign 
oil, or keep our environment clean.
  It was very disappointing that the Rules Committee rejected a very 
important amendment, which I would have supported, offered by Rep. 
Gutknecht of Minnesota. This amendment would have added a 10 percent 
ethanol requirement for all gasoline sold in the United States by the 
year 2010. Minnesota is a leader in renewable fuels, having enacted a 
10 percent ethanol requirement in 1997. Unfortunately, the House was 
denied the opportunity to consider this worthy amendment.
  This bill severely limits the use of ethanol and homegrown fuels by 
creating a federal fuels list limited to two diesel and four gasoline 
fuel blends for the entire nation. If a state or local program wished 
to promote a cleaner-burning fuel, the EPA could deny the plan on the 
grounds that it would interrupt the fuel supply in surrounding states.
  This bill also fails to protect the American consumer from price 
gouging. As prices soared in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, refineries 
cashed in. The industry reported a 255 percent increase in profits from 
just one year prior. Provisions in this bill, however, target only 
retailers, many who show only marginal gains during price hikes. These 
anti-gouging measures are also limited to disaster zones, leaving 
consumers in the rest of the country at the industry's mercy.
  H.R. 3893 further exploits these natural disasters by rolling back 
basic environmental and public health protections. Cities with the most 
persistent smog problems would be allowed to delay their cleanup 
deadlines for many years. The bill also requires the president to 
designate sites for new refineries on federal land, with no exemptions 
for national wildlife refuges and national forests.
  When it comes to our energy policy, Americans can no longer afford 
business as usual. The Democratic energy plan offered by 
Representatives Bart Stupak and Rick Boucher, which I support, is a 
reality-based solution to our energy needs. This package provides 
meaningful relief to American consumers and small businesses by 
promoting efficiency and investing in alternative sources of power.
  The Stupak-Boucher bill establishes a Strategic Refinery Reserve to 
allow for the release of refined product during energy emergencies. 
This reserve would maintain a capacity of five percent of the total 
U.S. daily demand for gasoline and home heating oil. This would double 
the spare capacity that currently exists and would help curb the 
skyrocketing prices that disproportionately affect seniors and low-
income households.
  The Democratic plan provides real protection from price gouging by 
covering the entire production and supply chain. In addition to 
gasoline, it would protect against price gouging of propane, natural 
gas, and home heating oil. It would extend beyond disaster zones to 
anywhere in the country price gouging occurs.
  The Republican-controlled Rules Committee demonstrated their 
intolerance for energy efficiency by rejecting the Boehler/Markey 
amendment. This amendment would have increased the fuel efficiency 
standards of cars and trucks from twenty-five to thirty-three miles per 
gallon by 2016. By reducing our consumption of gasoline we could have 
relieved market pressure and decreased our dependency on foreign oil.
  Now is the time to invest in the next generation of efficient 
technologies and to move our nation toward a sustainable and energy-
independent future. I urge my colleagues to oppose H.R. 3893 and 
support the Democratic substitute.

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