[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 12]
[House]
[Page 17223]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


[[Page 17223]]

                      OIL PRICES HIT 10-YEAR HIGH

  (Mr. DUNCAN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, the top headline in this morning's 
Washington Post says, ``Oil Prices Hit a 10-Year High.''
  One main reason the prices are this high and probably going higher is 
that the OPEC countries know that the environmental extremists in this 
country will not allow more domestic oil production.
  The U.S. Geologic Survey says we have billions of barrels of oil, 
equal to 3 years' worth of Saudi oil, in one tiny 2,000- to 3,000-acre 
part of the coastal plain of Alaska.
  We have billions more barrels off the U.S. outer-continental shelf.
  Yet this administration has vetoed legislation and has issued an 
executive order to prevent production of this oil.
  I wonder if some of these environmental groups are funded by 
companies that make more money when we buy foreign oil.
  To be so dependent on foreign oil hurts both our economy and our 
national security and risks more oil spills at sea.
  Those who like higher gas prices, Mr. Speaker, should write the White 
House and wealthy environmentalists and say thank you.

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