Sheila Jackson Lee: “Let me thank Mr. Pallone and Mr. Barton for their courtesies and as well the Rules Committee. Let me first of all say…”

“Let me thank Mr. Pallone and Mr. Barton for their courtesies and as well the Rules Committee. Let me first of all say there has been a lot of discussion on the floor of the House regarding this bill and different opinions. Might I add that this is an important and vigorous discussion. I think this is the best of what this Congress is all about. Mr. Chairman, I would like to take note of H.R. 702, which many of us know came about because of the gas prices in the 1970s. This bill simply repeals that portion of the legislation that responded to that crisis. What I like in the bill is, of course, we have in the bill that we, as a Congress, will get a report some 120 days after dealing with the maintenance and the strength of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. That is a very important national security item. A savings clause indicates, of course, that the President has all of his powers in the light of crisis and other issues to implement any necessary changes or any necessary restrictions on this legislation. My amendment tracks giving more information. Not later than 10 years after the date of enactment of this act, the Secretary of Energy and the Secretary of Commerce shall jointly transmit to Congress a report that reviews the impact of lifting the oil import ban under this act as relates to promoting, supporting, and providing for the United States energy and national security policy.…”