David Obey: “I remember being here during the first and second energy crisis in 1973 and again in 1977 under President Ford and then…”

“I remember being here during the first and second energy crisis in 1973 and again in 1977 under President Ford and then President Carter. And when we realized what a bind we were in on energy, we had a bunch of new actions taken. We took action to support new investments in technology. We supported new investments in energy conservation. We supported new investments in alternative fuels. And then slowly but surely during the Reagan years and afterwards, the Congress lost its interest, it lost its zeal, so did the administrations. And little by little those initiatives were just sort of slowly drained out of the budget, and we wound up getting in real terms back to about just where we were in terms of making those investments before we were hit by the energy crises. Unfortunately, I think that is what has happened with respect to the homeland security issues after 9/11. I remember after 9/11 going down to the White House, talking to the President with my good friend, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Young). We presented to the President a bipartisan list of initiatives which we had been told by the President's own security people were essential to try to protect us from future attacks. And I remember that instead of being met with a willingness to sit down and listen to what people had to say, the President essentially said, ``Folks, if you appropriate one dollar more than I have asked for, I will veto the bill.'' And there was no receptiveness at all.”