[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 7]
[House]
[Page 9358]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                     POLITICS AND THE ENERGY CRISIS

  (Mr. BALDACCI asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. BALDACCI. Mr. Speaker, a short while ago Senator Jim Jeffords 
announced he was changing his registration to be an Independent and not 
be a Republican anymore and, in that statement, he also talked about 
the differences of opinion he has with the administration in regards to 
energy and the environment.
  I first want to say how pleased I am with Senator Jeffords' decision 
and how well regarded he is as someone who is very thoughtful and fair 
and very much a public servant, and with the public interests in mind. 
We in New England appreciate that.


                ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. LaHood). The Chair would remind all 
Members that debate in the House may not include personal references to 
Senators. The gentleman may proceed.
  Mr. BALDACCI. Mr. Speaker, we recognize that the interest of the 
public have not been represented.
  If we look at this proposal that has been put forward by the 
administration where it talks about just the supply, it talks about 
drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Had this Congress and 
the leadership in this House not earmarked out raising the fuel 
efficiency standards, we would not need to be doing that drilling, 
because we would be getting twice as much oil out of the fuel 
efficiency and out of the savings we would have gotten from 
conservation. This administration has eliminated the scientific 
research and development so that we could be able to better generate 
more energy efficiency, both in our automobiles and vehicles and in our 
manufacturing and small businesses.
  We must reject this. It represents the special interests and not the 
public interest, and many public servants throughout this country are 
signing on.

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