John B. Breaux: “I think we desperately need an energy bill. It sort of goes without saying, if there is anything both sides could…”

“I think we desperately need an energy bill. It sort of goes without saying, if there is anything both sides could probably agree with in what is otherwise likely to be a relatively contentious debate, certainly we can all agree on the fact we need an energy bill in this country. The reasons are quite obvious. The United States prides itself in being a very strong and powerful nation, probably the most powerful nation on the face of the Earth, and perhaps the most powerful and strongest nation in the history of the world. When it comes to being self-sufficient in most aspects important to America, we are there. When it comes to the food we eat, Americans produce more than we can eat. In fact, we supply the food for a large number of countries around the world. We do very well. When it comes to medicine, America is the envy of the world. Pharmaceutical companies are the best. Medical technology and science is the best in this country. People come to America when they need very sophisticated, quality health care if they can find a way to get to our country. So in most all of what we do, including education, we are indeed No. 1 in the world, except when it comes to energy.”