[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 8]
[House]
[Pages 11355-11356]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




        DIRECT LINK BETWEEN ENERGY POLICY AND NATIONAL SECURITY

  (Mr. BLUNT asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. BLUNT. Mr. Speaker, the conference on our energy bill passed in 
this House almost 1 year ago today is beginning soon. American 
consumers sent Iraq and Saddam Hussein more than $1.4 billion for oil 
in the first 4 months of this year. This is a corrupt regime that pays 
the families of homicide bombers $25,000 for their attack on innocent 
victims in Israel. We are at war, and depending on Saddam Hussein for 
the fuel that powers our war on terrorism is untenable.
  Mr. Speaker, there is a direct link between energy policy and our 
national security. That is why more than 80 percent of Americans want 
us to pass a comprehensive energy plan that protects our national 
security while strengthening our economy.
  In 1992, we imported 32 percent of our energy. Now, nearly 60 percent 
of our energy is imported. We need an energy policy. The conferees on 
the energy bill

[[Page 11356]]

begin meeting tomorrow. I urge them to bring us legislation to increase 
our energy independence, create jobs, and strengthen our economy, Mr. 
Speaker.

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