Bill Flores: “I thank the gentleman for yielding to me. Let me correct some of the comments made by my friend from California. First…”

“I thank the gentleman for yielding to me. Let me correct some of the comments made by my friend from California. First of all, this is a typical example of the way that the Federal Government operates, where the left hand does something that's entirely different from the right hand. On one hand, the left hand says, We want to have alternative fuel sources available for our economy. The right hand says, But we can do it for everybody, except the agencies of the Federal Government. Let me give you an example. Oil sands from Canada. Production of oil from oil sands in Canada could completely displace our use of Middle Eastern oil. And yet, we're trying to block in this bill the use of oil sands from Canada. Virtually all the fuel in the United States has oil from some oil sands in Canada blended in as fuel. That would mean all that fuel is off limits to the United States Government and, in particular with this bill, to the United States Department of Agriculture. We should reduce our dependence on Middle Eastern oil, not increase our dependence on Middle Eastern oil. And my amendment to eliminate the impact of section 526 reduces that dependence on Middle Eastern oil. Remember also, Madam Chairman, this amendment was passed by a voice vote for the MILCON-VA bill.”