Chuck Schumer: “many of us believe this whole Energy bill is a travesty. Many of us believe there are three major energy issues that…”

“many of us believe this whole Energy bill is a travesty. Many of us believe there are three major energy issues that have occurred in the last 3 years. One was 9/11. It showed us the need to be independent of Middle Eastern oil. And China, of all places, because they are worried about dependence on Middle Eastern oil, is now instituting CAFE standards in their automobiles that are higher than ours. That should make every American think. If our country cannot take the necessary preparations to deal with a problem that is going to be nipping at our heels and then create real problems in America a few years from now, that is a sign of weakness of our country, and I love this country and I don't like to see us be weak. But we have done nothing on oil conservation. I am not one of those who says we shouldn't produce new oil. I was one of six Democrats who voted to look in the east gulf, much to the chagrin of my friends from Florida. I think on Federal lands--certainly not in parks or monuments but on the huge forest land--we should not be so doctrinaire. If there is a good amount of oil and gas that can be recovered in an environmentally sound way, I think we should do so. We need to increase supply and decrease demand. But we are doing nothing to decrease demand. On that issue, we have done nothing.”