[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 27 (Friday, February 17, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E233-E234]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       PROTECTING INVESTMENT IN OIL SHALE THE NEXT GENERATION OF 
            ENVIRONMENTAL, ENERGY, AND RESOURCE SECURITY ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 15, 2012

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the state of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 3408) to set 
     clear rules for the development of United States oil shale 
     resources, to promote shale technology research and 
     development, and for other purposes:

  Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Chair, like a broken, outdated record player, with 
this legislation the Republican Majority in the House shows itself to 
be out of touch with America's energy needs and energy future. The 
Congress should be encouraging innovation in our energy sector and 
natural resource preservation. Instead, H.R. 3408 shirks environmental 
stewardship and ignores all lessons from past drilling and spill 
related disasters. Almost two years after the Deepwater Horizon oil 
spill disaster there are still no new safety measures or reforms in 
place to prevent and mitigate a future catastrophe. Rather than 
meaningful efforts to prevent loss of life and loss of habitat, the 
Republican Majority chooses to open up nearly every coastline of the 
U.S. for development of oil and gas drilling.
  This bill threatens our nation's most pristine wilderness, the 
beautiful Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Opening this area to oil and 
gas drilling is not projected to lower gas prices in the near future or 
by any significant amount--less than two cents per gallon 20 years from 
now. But this is not the only area that would be opened up for offshore 
drilling under this bill. The Majority wants to mandate that broad 
swaths of the Atlantic, Pacific and Gulf coasts be made available for 
drilling leases. I thank my colleague in the New York Delegation, Mr. 
Bishop, for his amendment that would prevent oil and gas leases in the 
Northeast region. If I had been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on 
the Amendment 12 offered by Mr. Deutch.
  The grievances continue. The Majority repeats itself by again 
attempting to force approval of the Keystone XL pipeline. Throughout 
the 112th Congress they have refused to allow for a thorough review and 
study by the State Department. Seeking to direct the Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission to approve the pipeline within 30 days without 
conditions is wholly irresponsible and does nothing to ensure the 
safety and security of workers, residents, and communities impacted by 
the pipeline.
  The Republican Majority has tried to say opening up these lands to 
drillings will pay for a transportation package but that is false. This 
legislation would cover less than one percent of the overall cost of 
their transportation proposal.
  For reasons listed above, I oppose this misguided and dangerous 
legislation.

[[Page E234]]



                          ____________________