Michael Burgess: “we are going to vote this week on an energy bill in the House. Energy independence should be a goal for this Congress.…”

“we are going to vote this week on an energy bill in the House. Energy independence should be a goal for this Congress. Worldwide demand for petroleum has increased during the last decade. The growth in production has been relatively flat. The inevitable result is higher prices at the gasoline pump. The reality is that it takes time to go from the oil patch to the gas station, and we have lost considerable time in that regard. In 1995, in the 104th Congress, H.R. 2491 would have allowed oil exploration in the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge. The Department of Energy has estimated that between 1- and 1.3 million barrels of oil a day could be derived from this source. Unfortunately, this legislation was vetoed by then-President Clinton. That was 10 years ago, and given a timeline of 7 to 14 years for building the pipeline structure, it is time that we could scarcely afford. Mr. Speaker, I have been to ANWR. The vast coastal plain is unsuitable for habitation during the summer months because of its marshy consistency. Any caribou unlikely enough to calve in this region would likely die from exsanguination at the hands of the mosquitoes there. The people in ANWR, the people of Kaktovik, Alaska, are counting on this Congress to do the right thing and allow them, the rightful owners, to begin developing the resources as was granted them upon statehood in 1959. As we say in Texas, ``time's a'wasting.'' ____________________”