[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: WILLIAM J. CLINTON (2000-2001, Book III)]
[December 30, 2000]
[Pages 2813-2814]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



The President's Radio Address
December 30, 2000

    Good morning. The year 2000 is drawing to a close at a moment of 
great progress, prosperity, and peace for America. But while we have 
many reasons to be thankful, good weather is not one of them.
    Terrible ice storms in the Southern Plains States have left more 
than a dozen people dead and thousands without heat and electricity. Two 
days ago I declared that an emergency exists in Arkansas and Oklahoma so 
that Federal aid

[[Page 2814]]

can be made immediately available to help families in those States. Now 
a major snowstorm is rolling into the Northeast, and weather experts 
tell us that this November and December are shaping up to be among the 
coldest on record. All this, along with the increased demand for energy 
that has accompanied unparalleled economic growth, is putting enormous 
pressure on the energy supplies Americans need to heat their homes and 
businesses.
    Fortunately, we're far better prepared for this winter energy 
challenge because of actions we took this fall, and the new steps I am 
taking will ensure that we remain prepared. In late September, I 
directed the Department of Energy to exchange 30 million barrels of 
crude oil from the Federal Government's Strategic Petroleum Reserve. 
This was a step to prevent a supply crisis that would have had a 
particularly harsh effect on heating oil inventories in the Northeast.
    At the time, many said that using the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to 
help Americans heat their homes was a terrible idea, that it would never 
work. Well, now we have the results. I'm pleased to report that 
inventories of crude oil are up, and prices have dropped substantially, 
from $37 to $26 a barrel. Home heating oil prices also have fallen in 
recent weeks, and supply shortfalls have been cut by more than half.
    But even though heating oil prices have begun to ease, the cost of 
heating a home still is too high, especially for families on low and 
fixed incomes. That's why I'm releasing $300 million in funds from our 
Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. Along with similar funds I 
released earlier this fall, we've now devoted more than $850 million to 
assist families who can least afford to bear the burden of high energy 
prices this winter.
    The simple lesson we've learned again and again is that the best way 
to meet challenges is to stay ahead of them. So I am taking some new 
steps to prepare for more cold weather this winter. First, I'm directing 
the Departments of Energy and Transportation to make extra efforts to 
keep navigation lanes in U.S. harbors free of ice for ships bringing in 
heating oil. I'm also asking them to work with States to relieve 
bottlenecks on our Nation's roads, rivers, and pipelines.
    Second, in the Northwest, which is experiencing tight electricity 
supplies, I am asking all Federal facilities to join those in California 
that are already reducing their electricity consumption during peak 
hours. This will help to keep lights and heat on in homes and businesses 
across the West.
    Third, Energy Secretary Richardson has 
extended an emergency order to powerplants providing electricity to 
California to keep the power flowing in that hard-hit State.
    Fourth, I am asking the Small Business Administration to reach out 
to small businesses with high energy costs to make them aware of special 
SBA loans that will allow them to stretch out their energy payments. 
That could be a big help for businesses trying to get through this cold 
winter.
    None of us can control the weather. But all of us are responsible 
for how we respond to and prepare for it. With the actions I am taking, 
the Federal Government is fulfilling its responsibility. Across the 
Nation, Americans are doing their part: snowplow drivers are working 
late into the night; emergency shelter workers are offering a warm place 
to sleep for families whose homes are without power; younger neighbors 
are bringing hot food to their older neighbors and shoveling their 
walkways.
    The worst weather always seems to bring out the best in the American 
people. If we continue to work together and bring out the best in each 
other, we'll get through this cold weather just fine and usher in a new 
year of unlimited promise for our great Nation.
    Thanks for listening.

Note: The address was recorded at 4:50 p.m. on December 29 in the Map 
Room at the White House for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on December 30. The 
transcript was made available by the Office of the Press Secretary on 
December 29 but was embargoed for release until the broadcast.