Political Quotes

“I rise in support of H.R. 2884, a bill to reauthorize portions of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA) through September 30, 2003. EPCA authorizes the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and U.S. participation in the International Energy Agency. These programs are a crucial component of our energy security and are our first line of defense in a real energy emergency. The U.S. is now well over 50 percent dependent upon foreign oil. Americans have been reminded again and again this year why energy security is so important. Reauthorizing these programs is an important piece of business we must accomplish before we adjourn this year. H.R. 2884 also contains other important provisions which will enhance our energy security and reduce the vulnerability of the Northeast, where I come from, to heating oil shortages. In addition to reauthorizing the Reserve, it creates a Home Heating Oil Reserve in the Northeast and establishes a trigger for when it can be drawn down. The bill also requires annual home heating readiness reports and encourages education on the benefits of filling heating oil tanks in the summer. H.R. 2884 also contains provisions that will help reduce our dependence on foreign oil. It allows for the Reserve to be filled with domestic oil when oil prices are low. It requires the U.S. Geological Survey to conduct an inventory of oil and gas reserves on Federal lands.”