[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 8]
[House]
[Page 10842]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 NEED FOR A COMPREHENSIVE ENERGY POLICY

  (Mr. SHUSTER asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about the need for 
Congress to pass a comprehensive energy plan. Last August, with the 
support of President Bush, this body passed a responsible and balanced 
energy plan, a plan that frees us from the burden of dependence on 
foreign oil.
  It is time for this Congress to decide whether we are going to choose 
to be proactive or reactive. Are we going to wait until we are faced 
with an oil crisis similar to that of the 1970s? Should we simply sit 
by, or should we act on a plan put forth and passed by this House more 
than 9 months ago?
  H.R. 4 is a commonsense approach to our Nation's energy crisis. It is 
a plan that balances the need for production with conservation, as well 
as measures to protect the environment. H.R. 4 strengthens our Nation's 
energy infrastructure to ensure that energy gets to the consumers who 
need it. Further, H.R. 4 also will use tax incentives to encourage 
energy production, research efficiency, and conservation.
  All in all, H.R. 4 provides the energy for those who need it while at 
the same time making sure that it is cleaner, cheaper, and more 
dependable.
  Mr. Speaker, August will be the 1-year anniversary of H.R. 4 by this 
body. It is time for us to stop sitting idly by and enact the 
President's energy plan.

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