Jim Inhofe: “I want to read it again because, as I stated before, to even consider that our energy dependence upon foreign sources is…”

“I want to read it again because, as I stated before, to even consider that our energy dependence upon foreign sources is not a defense issue I think is ludicrous. Instead of offering the long amendment, I have merely offered a sense-of-the-Senate amendment that says: Sense of Senate on Availability of Energy-Related Supplies for the Armed Forces.--It is the sense of the Senate that the Senate should, before the adjournment of the first session of the 107th Congress, take action on comprehensive national energy security legislation, including energy production and energy conservation measures, to ensure that there is an adequate supply of energy for the Armed Forces. I think the strongest point we can make about our dependency upon the Middle East is the fact that the most rapidly growing contributor to our energy supply in the Middle East, Iraq, is a country with which we are at war. It is absurd not to at least make this commitment as a sense of the Senate to get this done. I ask this amendment be agreed to.”