[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 10]
[House]
[Page 13277]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      U.S. FORCES BOMB IRAQ, AGAIN

  (Mr. SHIMKUS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, since the Gulf War, pilots have been 
patrolling Iraqi skies keeping Saddam Hussein from killing his own 
people. This past weekend, Iraqi forces fired antiaircraft missiles at 
several of our aircraft. We responded in kind by shooting back and 
defending ourselves against this aggression.
  I would like to remind my colleagues that Saddam Hussein is more than 
an enemy that regularly tries to kill or capture American pilots. 
Saddam Hussein plays a critical role in our country by providing us 
with oil. In the first quarter of this year, we bought $1.4 billion of 
Iraqi oil.
  Where do we think that money goes? What does it pay for in Iraq? 
Propping up Saddam's regime. We know he rewards the family of each 
Palestinian suicide bomber with a check of $25,000. We import nearly 1 
million barrels a day from this madman. More than 10 percent of our oil 
comes from Saddam Hussein, yet he still would like nothing more than a 
downed American pilot to parade before the world.
  It is time our energy policy got in line with our foreign policy. I 
urge the Senate and House conferees to pass a bill that can be sent to 
the President for signing. If it is worth fighting for over there, it 
is worth exploring for over here at home.

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