Tom Cole: “Mr. Speaker, I am here to talk briefly about the reasons that I support this particular energy bill. I think we ought to…”

“Mr. Speaker, I am here to talk briefly about the reasons that I support this particular energy bill. I think we ought to talk first about the need, then about the process and then about, finally, some of the important provisions in this bill. In terms of the need, the President warned us 3 years ago what would happen if we did not have a comprehensive energy policy. He warned us that natural gas prices would go up and that would make American industry less competitive. He warned us that we would become more dependent upon foreign supplies, and he warned us that the price of gasoline was going to become prohibitive for many Americans. All of those warnings have been vindicated by the facts as we have frankly in Congress failed to act on I think a series of excellent recommendations by the administration. So we have had the warning. We should have acted. I compliment this body for having acted in a bipartisan fashion. Frankly I am appreciative for the majority of our friends in the other body for having been supportive of this particular piece of legislation.”