[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 5]
[House]
[Pages 6074-6075]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                   AMERICA NEEDS A REAL ENERGY POLICY

  (Mr. GIBBONS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to welcome all my colleagues 
back to Washington, D.C. It is obvious that spring is here and that 
summer is just around the corner; and soon no doubt air conditioners 
will be going full force and the energy crisis that has gripped the 
West will only get worse.
  Nevadans are well aware of the energy crisis which has overcome one 
of our neighbors, California. First there were rolling blackouts, now 
massive rate hikes, up to 46 percent for some 10 million homes and 
businesses.
  As Californians work to solve its energy problems, this Congress must 
address the energy crisis looming over our entire Nation. For too long 
the U.S. has operated without a responsible energy policy, and now 
Americans are beginning to pay the price. We need a responsible and 
reliable energy policy.

[[Page 6075]]

Let us face it, Mr. Speaker, in the 21st century we expect the lights 
to go on and the air conditioning to work without fail. We must address 
the rolling blackouts, rate hikes, and consumer aggravation; and we 
must establish a real energy policy that meets the needs of modern 
America.

                          ____________________