[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 11]
[House]
[Page 15041]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   VENEZUELA AND OUR ENERGY SECURITY

  (Mr. STEARNS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. STEARNS. Madam Speaker, today more than ever our energy supply is 
a matter of national security. Venezuela is our fourth largest supplier 
of crude oil, but since the Castro ally Hugo Chavez came to power, 
production has dropped sharply. As Chavez purchases Russian arms and 
assembles a regional anti-American coalition, many predict that decline 
will continue.
  According to the Wall Street Journal, a GAO study found that a 6-
month disruption in Venezuelan output would increase oil prices by $11 
a barrel, costing our economy about $23 billion. Rather than respond to 
such a crisis after it arises, we should take the initiative to 
encourage exploration here at home, diversify our energy supplies by 
promoting alternatives, including nuclear power.
  Finally, since the lack of freedom and democracy is synonymous with 
instability, we should consider the promotion of these values in 
Venezuela not only a moral imperative, but in our national interest as 
well.

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