J.C. Watts: “as we note the fifth anniversary this month of the successful conclusion of the Persian Gulf war, we must also…”

“as we note the fifth anniversary this month of the successful conclusion of the Persian Gulf war, we must also rededicate ourselves to achieving energy security. Five years after defeating Saddam Hussein's armies, America still depends on other nations to meet the majority of our petroleum needs. We as Americans face the prospect of depending on foreign nations, often unstable nations, to provide us with up to 68 percent of our oil supply within the next 20 years. That is a dependence on foreign oil that America should not be exposed to. America does not lack for proven oil reserves. Today, the House Resources Committee has scheduled a hearing on America's oil and natural gas resource base and Federal initiatives to encourage domestic oil and gas exploration. I strongly urge my colleagues to pay close attention to this hearing. Experts from the industry will discuss the promise of oil and natural gas development in America. For example, did you know we have over 60 years worth of proven oil and gas reserves waiting to be developed? Why are we not relying on our own resources rather than on unstable foreign resource? Today at the Resources Committee we will hear answers from America's oil and natural gas industry on how we, as leaders of this Nation, can help make America more secure against the threat of oil supply disruptions. I strongly encourage my colleagues to listen.”