[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 73 (Friday, June 9, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1097]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 AMERICAN-MADE ENERGY AND GOOD JOBS ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. BETTY McCOLLUM

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 25, 2006

  Ms. McCOLLUM of Minnesota. Madam Speaker, I rise today to strongly 
oppose H.R. 5429, the so-called American-Made Energy and Good Jobs Act, 
which attempts to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to 
industrial development.
  In March we were reminded of the potential environmental consequences 
of drilling in the refuge when an Alaskan pipeline leaked 200,000 
gallons of crude oil onto the surrounding slope. This is the largest 
spill ever in the North Slope and a timely caution against opening the 
Arctic Refuge to drilling.
  Because I have visited the Arctic Refuge and seen its unique 
wilderness first hand, such news strengthens my resolve to protect the 
refuge and press for real solutions to our country's energy challenges.
  This bill would do nothing more than continue our pattern of 
unchecked consumption. It is another attempt to sell Americans the 
false promise of easy answers on energy policy.
  Our energy situation will not change until Congress gets serious 
about tackling America's oil dependence. With the booming economies of 
China and India squeezing global oil supply, and political instability 
among key oil producing countries like Iran, Nigeria and Iraq, we 
should expect rising oil prices for some time to come.
  This proposal to open ANWR is a short-sighted answer to a long-term 
problem. I urge my colleagues to vote against the rule and the 
underlying bill.




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