February 26, 2001 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1561 laws, nor does it remove regulatory au- In my State of Idaho, we are depend- be looking forward to joining them in thority from various agencies. It does ent on hydropower. There are many, that effort. not call for the repeal of mandatory including the past administration and The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- conditions on a FERC issued license. many of their devotees, who would sug- ator from New Mexico is recognized. It is clear to me and many of my col- gest the dams on those rivers that f leagues that hydropower is at risk and produce that clean source of energy, ENERGY POLICY one of our most important tasks here nonpolluting, nongreenhouse gas-emit- in the Senate is to develop policies ting, that those dams ought to be Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, I rise that lead to an energy strategy that breached. They insist that if the dams to speak about the subject of energy, will ensure an adequate supply of rea- are not removed then they ought to be the energy prospects we face as a na- sonably priced, reliable energy to all regulated in a much more stringent tion, and the need to develop new en- Americans in an environmentally re- way. In fact, the licensing process the ergy policies here in this Congress. The sponsible manner. The relicensing of Federal Energy Regulatory Commis- United States is currently experiencing non-federal hydropower can and should sion has as a part of its responsibility unusually high and volatile energy continue to be an important strategy. to renew these hydro facilities is one prices. We have seen that in my State In addition, we should work with our that I am working on. And within this of New Mexico, and I assume we have seen that in the State of Florida, where Western Hemisphere neighbors to help legislation is a reform of the licensing the Presiding Officer lives. them increase their crude oil and nat- process, not to change it and take During most of the 1990s, in spite of ural gas production. stakeholders or interested parties away robust economic growth and increased We should provide relief to con- from it, but to ask them to perform sumers by eliminating the 4.3 cents a demand for energy, increased produc- their responsibilities in a timely fash- tivity, and reduction in energy use per gallon tax on motor gasoline enacted ion and in a responsible fashion. dollar of gross domestic product, along in 1993. Why should it take 10 years to reli- with the introduction of market com- We need to step away from punitive, cense a hydro facility and cost millions command and control environmental petition, all of those factors acted to upon millions of dollars that ulti- hold down prices, but now we have fi- regulations and move toward perform- mately the consumer has to pay? If it nally exhausted the buffer of excess ca- ance based regulatory concepts that needs retrofitting, if it needs improve- pacity that kept the system func- offer the regulated community oppor- ment of technology for environmental tioning with low prices and relatively tunities to find flexible approaches to reasons, those are conclusions that can minor bumps along the way. So that reducing emissions of legally regulated be drawn in a reasonably quick way, excess capacity is gone, and there are a contaminants. and managed responsibly, so that we number of factors and circumstances We must carefully assess the capa- can balance out our energy needs. that have contributed to the current bilities of our energy production and The legislation the Senate now has situation we face—the situation of in- delivery systems to find opportunities before us will be coupled with the work adequate supply, too much demand. to improve system productivity, effi- the Bush administration is doing now Remedies are not as apparent as ciency and reliability. through their Cabinet level working some would argue. The Republican en- We must ensure that sufficient funds group. This administration wants an ergy package, which was introduced are available to help those with lower energy policy, too, and it is their goal today by my colleague, Senator MUR- incomes to weatherize their homes and to produce one for the American peo- KOWSKI, contains a number of provi- pay their energy bills. ple. sions that I and many Democrats, I am While renewable energy sources pro- Our economy depends on an abundant sure, would be glad to support. In fact, vide only about 3 percent of total U.S. supply of environmentally sound, rel- many of those proposals are similar to, demand for energy, we should continue atively low-cost energy. It is the if not the same as, provisions origi- to provide incentives for our citizens to wealth of our country. It is what drives nally introduced by Democrats in the use wind, solar, and other renewables. this marvelous economic engine of last Congress. Much of what has been We should encourage motor vehicle ours. And it does something very sim- introduced today involves proposals to manufacturers to ensure that con- ple—it puts money in the pocketbook change the tax laws; and in some cases sumers have access to safe and highly of the worker. It turns the lights on in those proposals are meritorious; in efficient cars and trucks. his or her home. It helps educate our other cases, they are not an adequate We must realize that we are part of children. It does all of the wonderful substitute for changes in actual energy the problem. Our unwillingness to de- things we in America have grown to ex- policy. velop our own abundant oil, gas and pect. Just last week, President Bush made coal resources dooms us to greater de- Why should we suggest that we ought a very strong statement about tax pol- pendence on foreign sources, especially to have anything less if we can do it icy and his determination not to mod- for crude oil. We must make the con- with the environment in mind and at a ify his income tax proposals with other scious choice to carefully find and de- relatively low cost. That can be accom- unrelated tax measures. This bill that velop our resources while protecting plished in a policy in which the Federal was introduced today, with over 180 our environment. Government promotes the concept of pages of tax proposals, seems to reflect I conclude by drawing attention to a energy production instead of setting up some disconnect between the adminis- portion of this bill that is increasingly one trip wire after another to disallow tration’s views on the subject of tax valuable; that is the area of new tech- it from happening. provisions directed or targeted at this nology. Some who will argue against I look forward to the coming debate. particular industry and the views of this bill would suggest that it is mere- I think it is critical that all of us get some of my colleagues on the Repub- ly a reason to fall back to our habits of ourselves involved and educated in the lican side in the Senate. old. That is not true. We want to and issues at hand. I had hoped, and still hope, we can will continue to fund the new tech- These two pieces of legislation go a proceed on a bipartisan and collabo- nology, much of it started in the dec- long way toward allowing that to hap- rative basis to develop solutions to ade of the 1990s. It is clearly important. pen. these critical problems. I strongly be- We are not always going to have hydro- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- lieve that a package with equal empha- carbons around, and we should not be ator from Arizona is recognized. sis on both supply and demand meas- that dependent upon them. But in the Mr. KYL. Mr. President, I com- ures, developed with bipartisan sup- short term, in the next several decades, pliment the Senator from Idaho on the port, is the only way we can pass re- as we are using our resources and fuel- points he was making. I look forward sponsible energy legislation in this ing our economy, we need to look at to joining him in tackling this very dif- Congress. I hope we can proceed with nuclear technology and new clean coal ficult problem of making some sense the input of this new administration technology so we can use the abun- out of our national energy policy. Sen- and with the input from the States and dance of these resources and in an envi- ator CRAIG has the expertise to lead us, various stakeholders to develop such ronmentally sound way. along with Senator MURKOWSKI. I will consensus legislation. S1562 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE February 26, 2001 It is important to step back and look On the subject of supply diversity sumption is in the transportation sec- at the current context. The restruc- and efficiency, the counter to major tor. That is the top line. That is be- tured electricity and natural gas mar- new infrastructure projects is to em- cause of the inefficiency of the vehicles kets of today pose very different public phasize increasing energy efficiency we are driving more and more each policy challenges from the old regu- and development of smaller distributed year in this country. There can be no latory models. Ever-increasing con- generation. We need to enact national serious discussion about reducing our sumer demand for transportation fuels, standards and policies for interconnec- dependence on foreign oil without a compounded by the recession in Asia tion of distributed generation tech- discussion of what can be done to re- and subsequent determination by nologies to ensure diversity of fuels verse these trends. I hope that is part OPEC to actively intervene in the mar- and technologies for the future. Com- of the debate we have over the next few ket, has increased the volatility and mercial investment in new tech- months in this Chamber about our en- high prices of oil and natural gas. nologies and nonconventional fuels will ergy policy. As the economic growth of recent require some degree of additional in- On the subject of supply, I do agree years has used up the excess capacity centives. I introduced legislation in the with my Republican colleagues on the in the fuels, power, and natural gas last Congress to address these issues, need to increase the supply of petro- sectors, the frictions and imperfections and I am pleased to see similar provi- leum products. The U.S. has domestic in those markets have become very ap- sions included in this Republican legis- natural gas and oil resources that can parent. lation today. be developed in an efficient and envi- The old model of split responsibility Increasing the efficient use of energy ronmentally sensitive manner. In fact, between States and the Federal Gov- is the single most effective and least- under the previous administration, oil ernment is no longer adequate. We cost policy for both the short term and and natural gas production on Federal need new mechanisms and policies to the long term. Investments in more en- lands and in the Outer Continental address regional needs and cir- ergy-efficient lighting, more energy-ef- Shelf increased substantially. Let me cumstances. We need a new model for repeat that, Mr. President, because ficient appliances, and more energy-ef- ensuring short-term and long-term en- most people are not aware of that. In ficient buildings generate benefits in ergy demand and supply needs and the previous administration, oil and terms of energy savings, emission re- managing weather-related and supply natural gas production on Federal ductions, and human health improve- emergencies. lands and on the Outer Continental ments. Improvements to installation There are several regional energy Shelf increased substantially. Produc- practices for heating and cooling sys- boards and various planning commis- tion on State and private lands did not tems, including duct work, could take sions that could be reviewed as models keep pace with production on Federal considerable pressure off the power for new legislation in this area. In con- lands. sultation with the States, we need to grid and off natural gas supplies in the Policies should first emphasize maxi- determine how to ensure regional enti- coming months. Expediting the re- mizing the recovery of resources cur- ties have adequate authority to do placement of older appliances with rently open to development. The North what is needed in those regions. We newer high-efficiency models would not Slope of Alaska in the vicinity of should evaluate whether an additional only reduce energy consumption, it Prudhoe Bay is estimated to contain at grant of authority from the Federal would create new manufacturing jobs. least 32 and maybe as much as 38 tril- Government or a specific authorization Projections of capacity constraints lion cubic feet of natural gas that is of responsibility should be written into and high electricity prices in the New ready for development. Until now, pro- Federal statute. York urban area could be mitigated ducing and transporting the gas from I will speak for a moment about in- with a concerted effort to upgrade the North Slope has not been economi- frastructure needs. Electric trans- lighting, heating, and cooling systems cal. Producers are currently con- mission lines, natural gas and oil pipe- in commercial buildings even before ducting a feasibility study for a pipe- lines, powerplants, and refineries have this summer is upon us. These im- line to bring the gas to market in Can- all become increasingly difficult to provements would immediately reduce ada and also in the lower 48. The U.S. site. The No. 1 problem is not environ- pressure on the grid and save busi- Geological Survey has estimated that mental permitting, as some persist- nesses money in the process. with additional exploration in the area, ently argue in public debate today. As The National Conference of Mayors, the potential resources could be double our society has become increasingly at its recent meeting here in Wash- the current estimate which I have urbanized and congested, local commu- ington, called for an increase of 10 per- given of 32 to 38 trillion cubic feet. nities have become increasingly active cent in the efficient use of energy. Such a project will involve a number in opposing the siting of new infra- Over the past decade or so, sales of of Federal and State agencies, Native structure, and tax incentives do not ad- sport utility vehicles and light trucks groups, the Government of Canada, and dress this major hurdle. grew to become fully half the passenger many private stakeholders in ensuring Certainly the environmental rules vehicles sold in this country. Mean- the efficient processing of all permit- governing the permitting process could while, a moratorium on even studying ting and certifications necessary to be be streamlined to expedite processing increasing fuel efficiency was imposed a top priority of this Congress. I have and facilitate investments in new tech- by the Republican-controlled Congress committed to Senator MURKOWSKI to nologies not in the marketplace when in the last 2 years. I do not think we work with him to facilitate any legis- the existing rules were written. We can even talk about a comprehensive lative actions that are appropriate to should consider the possibility of siting energy policy without concrete policies accomplish this. new infrastructure on existing rights- to reduce oil demand. We cannot just Another producing area with great of-way or at Federal facilities or on produce our way to independence from potential is the deep water Gulf of brownfields. foreign oil supplies. Mexico. The gulf has had an explosion We also need to evaluate whether in- I call my colleagues’ attention to of development in recent years, in part centives or different policies at the this chart. The chart is entitled: ‘‘Pe- due to royalty incentives to offset the State or Federal level are necessary to troleum Use Increases Mainly in the higher costs of developing a frontier ensure adequate investment in new ca- Transportation Sector.’’ area. pacity. Overemphasis on short-term This is for the period 1970 to the year The Minerals Management Service is and spot contracts compounded by on- 2020, and it shows a history and then a scheduled to hold a lease sale later this going uncertainty with respect to the projection for consumption in the year for an area in the eastern plan- future regulatory environment have transportation sector, consumption in ning area of the gulf. This chart shows had a stifling effect upon investment. the industrial sector, consumption in what I am talking about. The green We need to develop a consensus on poli- the residential-commercial sector, and area is the sale 1881. The lease sale cies that provide greater certainty and finally consumption in the electricity would cover a narrow strip of Federal a mechanism to address the public’s generation activity. waters directly south of the Alabama growing resistance to siting new facili- The obvious conclusion one draws coastline which expands into a broader ties. from this chart is that the growth con- area 100 miles out in the gulf. February 26, 2001 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1563 The MMS, the Minerals Management I am concerned that the President Our majority leader, earlier this Service, estimates 240 million barrels maintain a serious commitment to afternoon, indicated we would not be of oil and 1.8 trillion cubic feet of nat- funding critical energy research and addressing energy policy on the Senate ural gas will be developed from this development. We have shortchanged floor until sometime this summer, area. Those figures could go as high as ourselves in the past by cutting invest- June or July I believe was his esti- 370 million barrels of oil and 3.2 trillion ment in R&D to meet other budget ob- mate. That may be an appropriate time cubic feet of natural gas. jectives. We should not make that to address long-term energy policy be- Unfortunately, the Governor of Flor- same mistake again this year. cause it will take several months to de- ida, Jeb Bush, the President’s brother, On tax policy, the Finance Com- velop a good piece of legislation which has written to the Department of the mittee will soon begin hearings on the we can support on a bipartisan basis. Interior urging cancellation of this President’s budget and tax proposals. But that is too long to wait for atten- lease sale and any future lease sales in These hearings will give the Senate an tion to these immediate needs, the this entire eastern planning region. I opportunity to evaluate a range of tax need to adequately fund the LIHEAP certainly understand that Floridians incentives to enhance investment and program and the weatherization pro- may have concerns about the develop- distribute a generation from combined grams. ment close to their beaches, but most heat and power systems and fuel cells We are not at a crossroads where one of this area is more than 100 miles from to renewable technologies and energy- path or the other needs to be taken in the State and in Federal waters. efficient property used in business. our national energy policy. The supply When the Minerals Management Many of these proposals are included in side only path that some have advo- Service prepared the leasing plan for the bill that was introduced today by cated would be both futile and destruc- this 5-year-period, they had extensive URKOWSKI. They have been Senator M tive. The path of maximum efficiency— public meetings and consultations with included in legislation I have intro- renewable and emission-free energy—is States. The State of Florida supported duced and cosponsored in the past. a very long road with many milestones proceeding with this sale. This is not a We need to carefully analyze the need wildlife refuge. It is a huge expanse of for policy measures versus changes in along the way. It would be foolhardy to Federal water where industry has de- tax policies as we go through this de- put all of our confidence in that path, veloped oil and gas for years and has bate over the next few months. The as well. developed it in a safe and environ- omnibus Republican energy bill is very We need a commitment to parallel mentally sound manner. This is a sale generous in its modification of the Tax paths, with a focus on maintaining the which we should go forward with in Code as a solution to many shortfalls, core values of equity and affordability order to meet the needs the country perceived and otherwise, in our energy and environmental integrity. I believe will have for additional supply in the policy. For example, at a time when oil we can do that if we get on with the future. and gas prices are at such high levels, consideration of the legislation I intro- A serious, long-term commitment to with the major oil companies reporting duced the week before we had our re- research and development of the next record earnings, I believe it is valid to cess to address our immediate needs for generation of powerplants is essential. say that the industry does not need ad- adequate funding of the programs that Such a program should include all fea- ditional tax incentives in order to go assist families to deal with the high sible fuels and technologies, with an forward and explore and produce petro- cost of energy they are facing this win- emphasis on a fleet of technologies to leum products. What we do need are ter. And then we need this bipartisan ensure fuel diversity while meeting en- well-thought-out, countercyclical effort to develop some long-term poli- ergy supply and emission reduction measures that give producers incen- cies. targets. Development and deployment tives to maintain investment in domes- I am confident with good will on both of more efficient generating and end- tic exploration and drilling during a sides of the political aisle we can come use technologies are critical. time of extremely low prices as we had up with a bipartisan piece of legisla- Commitment to a coordinated re- a year or two ago. tion that will move our country for- search, development, and deployment Top priority should be given to poli- ward and help us deal with these very program to ensure the safe and reliable cies that correct market failures and real problems. I commend all of my operation of pipelines and transmission meet major policy goals of increasing colleagues for their interest in these lines is also essential to restore public efficiency and diversifying tech- energy issues. I hope we can work to- confidence in the safety of these sys- nologies. gether constructively to address them tems. The Pipeline Safety Act, S. 235, We need to develop long-term poli- in the months ahead. which passed the Senate by a vote of cies, and I have been speaking about I yield the floor and suggest the ab- 98–0 earlier this month, contains the some of those long-term policies. In sence of a quorum. framework for such a program for nat- the interim, individuals and families The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. ural gas and oil pipelines. A parallel and small businesses are suffering VOINOVICH). The clerk will call the roll. program exists within the Department today from energy bills that they can- The legislative clerk proceeded to of Energy for the electric transmission not pay. President Bush, during his call the roll. system, and I hope we will see a serious campaign, made clear his support for Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, I ask commitment to these programs in the ensuring adequate funds for the unanimous consent that the order for budget that the President sends to LIHEAP program—that is Low Income the quorum call be dispensed with. Congress in the next week or so. Home Energy Assistance Program—and The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without The oil and gas industry has made for the low-income efficiency pro- objection, it is so ordered. great strides in increasing productivity grams. Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, we have and bringing down exploration and pro- In addition to the stress on families been talking about energy today. I rise duction costs. Development of 3D and and individuals, higher energy prices now to talk about this Nation’s strug- 4D seismic analysis techniques, hori- are having an impact on our economy gle to deal with a threatening energy zontal drilling, and deep water produc- as well. Every dollar spent on these situation that is affecting our econ- tion systems are some examples that programs will be immediately and omy. have enabled the industry to continue completely reinjected into the econ- I don’t think there is any other issue producing more oil and gas from the omy, unlike tax cuts that will not have that will come before Congress that mature fields on shore and to set world an impact for months into the future. I will have more to do with our daily records in deep water development in urge the President to send those in lives than this one. the Gulf of Mexico. A robust R&D pro- Congress a request for a supplemental For those of you who do not believe gram to maximize recovery, to address appropriation with his budget for next we are in a situation that makes us all problems of operations in ultra deep year, a supplemental appropriation so very uncomfortable, I ask you to waters, and to evaluate the potential of we can adequately fund the LIHEAP rethink that. The prevailing mind-set methane hydrates will be critical to fu- program and adequately fund the must change in order to solve this ture development of affordable natural weatherization programs that are so problem that has reached a crisis pro- gas supplies. important for many in our country. portion. S1564 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE February 26, 2001 Don’t let anybody tell you dif- pretty well thought out and is sup- Commonsense tells us that our regu- ferently. We are in the midst of one of posed to stabilize energy prices as we lation policies should allow the supply the worst energy shortages this Nation see them today. to meet the demand. has ever experienced. The oil shortage That is why I am adding my name as We can and must identify and reform will pale to the one of the 1970s because a cosponsor to that bill. But as with or, in some cases, remove some of the it entails all forms of energy. I remem- any bill, there are portions I would like regulatory burdens. We now have a ber the long gas lines and forced reduc- to work on with Senator MURKOWSKI, mandate to assess and improve agency tions in heating energy that we faced the administration, and the Energy performance, which could lead to more in the 1970s. I also remember the finan- Committee when we begin the debate. timely processing of permits and appli- cial pain that it placed on all Ameri- But I am generally comfortable that cations to produce power. cans—especially Montanans. We come the legislation is a positive move in Public lands in the West, what role from a large State. We are very mobile. the right direction for our country and do they play? Or should they play a In fact, if you look at the size of Mon- American consumers. role? They do have a role to play. They tana from the northwest corner to the The bill aims to protect the energy may hold the key to the dependency of southeast corner, it is farther than the security of the United States and de- foreign sources of oil and natural gas. distance from Chicago to Washington, crease America’s dependency on for- We can and must improve the usage DC. eign oil sources to less than 50 percent and management of our public lands, All of us were hurt during those days. by the year 2010 by enhancing the use which means better coordination with Families of farmers and ranchers, over- of renewable energy sources, con- local citizens affected by agency ac- the-road truck drivers, manufacturing serving energy resources, improving tion. And there needs to be consistency companies, loggers, and the mining in- energy efficiencies, and increasing do- within the agencies so that investors dustry were jolted by that energy mestic energy supplies. As written, it have some kind of idea about when shortage—jolted to the point where will improve environmental quality by they may see a return on their invest- some did not recover at all. reducing emissions of air pollutants, ment. When coupled with high interest greenhouse gases, and it will, in effect, We have seen that oil and gas explo- rates at that time and runaway infla- stunt the increased costs of energy to ration increased with the previous ad- tion, it was truly a double whammy. I the American consumer. ministration. That is true. It is a true statement. It is also true that more do not want to see that happen again. But let’s take a closer and intensive lands were withdrawn from exploration But little did I know, although I should look at what I perceive are the reasons than in any other administration. Ex- have, that our memories are very short we are in this energy situation today. ploration might have increased but, I on our understanding of energy and the Electricity prices are skyrocketing. We role it plays in our everyday lives. We would ask, did production? are seeing high gasoline prices, oil Finally, we must reduce the time and took it for granted too long, even prices, natural gas prices, and heating though the signs of the impending dan- cost for approving exploration and oil prices as well. In fact, the price per management of development projects. gers were there. It is still talked about barrel of oil has gone from $15.99 in 1992 in the Halls here, but the message fell Our Federal agencies need to help ease to well over $30 this year. Natural gas the pain of regulatory burdens that on ears that did not want to listen. prices have gone from $1.74 per thou- In Montana, we have already seen the have been placed on America’s energy sand cubic feet at the wellhead to near- impact. Columbia Falls Aluminum consumers. ly $5 per thousand cubic feet today. Company, one of the largest users of Next, we need to be able to access Electricity prices in the Northwest electrical power, closed its doors for a those vast resources on our public have gone from roughly $20 per mega- year. Montana Resources in Butte, MT, lands. The Federal Government cur- watt hour in 1992 to nearly $250 per closed its doors, and we don’t know rently manages—now listen to this fig- megawatt hour right now. I don’t have when that will ever be open. Many oth- ure—650 million acres of land. More a high enough math degree to figure ers will have to do the same if price than 90 percent of this land is west of how much of an increase that really is. signals on the cost of commodities or the Mississippi River. In fact, 52 per- Gasoline prices were around 93 cents the cost of power does not change. I am cent of the land in the West is managed per gallon in 1992 and now sit at nearly told that farmers placing orders for by Federal and State Governments. In a $1.40 or $1.50 per gallon today. And their spring fertilizer needs are Montana, nearly 50 percent of our land these prices are before taxes are added. stunned when they hear the price. Any is owned by the Federal Government. So prices have gone up across the board increase in the cost of production Folks, 95 percent of the undiscovered for all forms of energy. would be devastating to grain growers oil and 40 percent of the undiscovered in Montana. The policies of the past 8 years, or as gas is estimated to be located under As you know, natural gas is used in some would say the lack of a clear na- these public lands. It is obvious to me the production of nitrogen for urea and tional energy policy, has contributed that herein lies a part of our solution fertilizer that is used across the coun- to this predicament we find ourselves to energy dependence on foreign try. in today. sources. We have the ways and means Facing this problem is something In the Northwest, we have seen a 24 to manage our natural resources on within itself. We are in the midst of a percent increase in electricity con- public lands so that the environment is crisis. We must use caution. We cannot sumption since 1992, while generation treated like we would treat our own succumb to the knee-jerk reactions has only increased 4 percent. If you add homes. that are of a temporary nature. Usu- the California situation into the mix, I am confident that the new adminis- ally, that leads to a long-term night- the discrepancy grows even larger. Fur- tration, working with Energy Com- mare. ther, the Electric Power Research In- mittee Chairman FRANK MURKOWSKI While I know the challenge that faces stitute recently found that there is and the rest of the Congress, will de- us, I plan to approach it with a great going to be a 20 to 25 percent growth in velop a comprehensive plan that will deal of caution. electricity demand in the next 10 years, take the step to solve the problems First off, there are some folks who but, again, only a 4 percent increase in that we are facing. As I stated before, are promulgating the idea that we im- generation and also the transmission we must looks at our regulations and pose Federal price caps on electricity. lines to carry that electricity, that regulatory burdens. We must be able to That will not work in the North- power. The stats speak for themselves. site generation facilities in a timely western United States at this time. If we do not see more generation and manner. We, as policymakers and act- Price caps discourage investment, gen- the ability to transmit it—if those do ing in the best interests of all Ameri- eration and transmission at a time not come on-line—high energy prices cans, should be able to site trans- when we need all three. are here to stay. We must lose the mission lines in a timely manner. The National Energy Security Act of mentality that electricity comes from Finally, we must remove the barriers 2001 introduced by Senator MURKOWSKI a switch like the mentality that milk that stifle incentives for investment in today is a piece of legislation that is comes from a jug. our power markets, while at the same February 26, 2001 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1565 time providing incentives to do the experience, racing smarts, and he had A lot of these things don’t charac- same. We have worked ourselves out of an intangible will—the will to win. He terize typical sports events. These are crisis situations in the past. American won seven NASCAR championships, good people. They are not prima don- ingenuity and imagination will again, tied only by Richard Petty. He had a nas like some other sports figures. in a free market, take its role and pro- lot of other racing victories as well. They provide interviews and give auto- vide us again with affordable energy, One of the racing series is called IROC, graphs and do appearances. They ap- but it must be allowed to do so. It must International Race of Champions, peal to young people. They are really be allowed in our shared American val- where everybody is given an identical normal people doing very extraor- ues. car and it is up to the drivers to show dinary things. Fans can relate to them. f who is the best using identically pre- They look at them not as role models pared cars. Earnhardt frequently won but as people who, in a sense, are like REMEMBERING DALE EARNHARDT because of his skill. them. Many came up the hard way, as Mr. KYL. Mr. President, I rise to It may simply be a sport, but we can Earnhardt did. He didn’t even graduate speak today about Dale Earnhardt. all appreciate excellence. Whether in from high school. His father was a During this past week, millions of rac- art, music, business, or sport, it is a great driver in his own right. Now Dale ing fans all around the country have joy to watch the very best perform. Earnhardt’s son, Dale Jr., will have to been mourning the death of this stock That is one of the reasons Dale do the same. car great. He was killed on the last Earnhardt will be so sorely missed. His In the end, Dale Earnhardt is turn of the last lap of the prestigious peers will miss him as well as his fans. mourned because his life is an example Why was he so tough? It had to do Daytona 500 just a week ago Sunday. of the American dream. He came from with respect. One of the highest accom- I rise today not only to eulogize Dale very humble beginnings—in his case, plishments for a race car driver was to Earnhardt but to try to explain to from the small town of Kannapolis, NC have the respect of Dale Earnhardt. In those who are not racing fans why his —worked hard, and ended up a success. NASCAR racing, you knew you had life and death means so much to those Dale Earnhardt is mourned because he of us who are. I believe there are some made it when Dale Earnhardt said so. Some wonder how well NASCAR will embodied the qualities not only per- lessons of life here that have relevance sonifying NASCAR but, in a sense, life to all of us and, indeed, to the health of fare with the death of its greatest driv- er. But Dale Earnhardt would scoff at in general, and humility, loyalty, car- our country. ing, hard work, pride in one’s work, Why is Dale Earnhardt’s death an oc- that thought. It was always his dream to drive a NASCAR. NASCAR was a and the competitive spirit. Most of all, casion for such reflection? The first he was a lover of family and friends. reason has to do with the man himself. great sports organization before he got there, and it will continue to grow. It Today, I join the millions of Ameri- I did not know him well. His closest cans who are praying for Dale’s wife friends talked not just about Dale is the Nation’s fastest-growing sport. Just as Richard Petty’s 200 wins and 7 Theresa, his children, and all of the Earnhardt the race car driver but championships earned him the moniker good people who are fans of NASCAR. about Dale Earnhardt the man, a fam- ‘‘The King,’’ NASCAR will add Dale Mr. EDWARDS. Mr. President, I rise ily man, a man who was intensely loyal Earnhardt to its great history and tra- today to note with sadness the tragic to his friends, a man who went out of dition, and it will continue. death of Dale Earnhardt. his way to do thoughtful favors, who Back to the original question: Why For the past week, the Nation has took great care of his employees, and do so many millions of Americans mourned the loss of a racing legend. who helped younger drivers. mourn his death? I think it has to do But in my home State of North Caro- Ironically, he died at almost the pre- with the very nature of NASCAR itself. lina, his death has a special signifi- cise moment that Michael Waltrip It is a family affair, and all NASCAR cance because we have lost a cherished took the checkered flag at the Daytona fans consider themselves part of that native son. 500 race. It was Waltrip’s first victory family. You start with NASCAR itself, Dale Earnhardt was a hero to count- ever in a very long racing career, well the National Association of Stock Car less NASCAR fans in North Carolina over 400 starts. Dale Earnhardt be- Racing, which was started by Bill and across our country. lieved in Michael Waltrip. He believed France, from Daytona Beach, FL. His His success on the track helped ele- he could win if he had the right equip- family took it over. His son Bill vate stock-car racing from a regional ment. So he hired him; he provided him France, Jr., has been the head of pastime to a national sport. a car that could win, and Michael NASCAR during its great growth pe- Racing brought Dale fame and Waltrip did the rest. riod. wealth, but he never forgot his roots in In private, Earnhardt always seemed I pray for Bill France, Jr.’s health. Kannapolis, North Carolina or the to me to be quiet; in fact, even shy. He has, in effect, turned most of the hometown fans who backed him from But on the track he was anything but business over to other members of his the beginning. shy. He was known as ‘‘the Intimi- family now and also to the CEO of He never let them down. They always dator.’’ That is precisely because of the NASCAR, Mike Helton. The crews, the knew they could count on Dale to give way he raced. He was tough. It seemed owners, the sponsors, the drivers, the it his all every time. he would always find a way to win, owners of the tracks, and the media Dale Earnhardt was a champion from even if his car was not as good that day that cover the sport are all a very the start, winning NASCAR rookie-of- as some of the others. close-knit unit. They race hard against the-year honors back in 1975. Sometimes, especially earlier in his each other, but they will always come In 26 years of racing, Dale won 7 Win- career, he was perhaps too aggressive. to each other’s aid in times of dif- ston Cup Series titles, 76 races in all, But he didn’t see racing as a sport for ficulty. including the 1998 Daytona 500, and be- the weak. Indeed, I don’t think there is Not only is there a strong sense of came the leading all-time money win- anything wrong with having a very values within the people who partici- ner in racing history. strong desire to be the very best you pate in the sport, but also strong val- His fans and his fellow racers called can be. That seemed to be Dale ues within the family, starting with a him ‘‘The Intimidator’’—not just be- Earnhardt’s motivation in life. As rac- firm belief in God. When the race is cause he won so many races—but be- ing fans, as sports fans of any kind, we over, ordinarily when the driver ma- cause he was a fierce competitor. all have our favorites, but no real neuvers himself out of the car and Dale Earnhardt was more than a NASCAR fan would deny that he was claims victory, first of all he will great race car driver. He was also a the greatest driver of his time. thank God for a safe race and for the great American success story, rising It takes away nothing from the other talent, he will thank his crew for pre- from poverty and a ninth-grade edu- great drivers to acknowledge that Dale paring the car, and he will thank a lot cation to become a racing legend and Earnhardt was the best. He had enor- of other people for enabling him to win. extraordinarily successful business- mous natural talent and courage. It At the races, each Sunday morning be- man. takes courage to drive a car right on fore the race starts there is a chapel He was also a great husband to his the edge, at 200 miles per hour. He had service and a prayer before the race. wife Teresa, and a great father to his