Henry Bonilla: “I rise today to remember the sacrifice and achievement of our Persian Gulf war veterans. This month marks the fifth…”

“I rise today to remember the sacrifice and achievement of our Persian Gulf war veterans. This month marks the fifth anniversary of the end of the war which liberated the small country of Kuwait and ensured access to the region's energy supplies. Unfortunately, we have done little to reduce the threat of energy dependence. Five years later the U.S. dependence on foreign oil has grown; America now imports 52 percent of its annual oil supply. We import 9 million barrels of oil a day to satisfy demand. For a country that in on the cutting edge of technology, there is no excuse for a lack of energy preparedness which places American lives at risk. U.S. producers have the capability to tap into an estimated 60-year supply of oil and natural gas that lies undiscovered in America. And they can do this without threatening the environment. Five years ago we learned a lesson--we need to open the doors to energy independence to ensure our freedom from foreign tyrants' threats.”