Timothy H. Bishop: “we can't drill our way to energy independence. Although this Nation is responsible for 25 percent of the world's oil…”

“we can't drill our way to energy independence. Although this Nation is responsible for 25 percent of the world's oil demand, we own only 3 percent of the reserves. Time and again we've debated opening ANWR to oil exploration. It fails every time because a majority knows it's as misguided an idea as leading off our energy policy by rewarding $16 billion worth of tax- breaks to oil companies. Opening ANWR is not the silver bullet for lowering gas prices. We need to shift the focus from supply back toward reducing our demand. If we don't we'll remain at the mercy of Big Oil. We must commit more toward conservation and research into renewable energy if we're going to achieve energy independence once and for all. Mr. Speaker, we owe our constituents more than what appears to be a debate about reform. It's time that we deliver a policy that embraces real energy reform. Mr. Speaker, we can simply do better.”