19050 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—HOUSE October 9, 2001 pass the Senate joint resolution, S.J. ing member of the Committee on House Strategic Petroleum Reserve, as Res. 19. Administration. amended. The question was taken; and (two- I urge my colleagues to support this The Clerk read as follows: thirds having voted in favor thereof) resolution and urge its adoption. H. RES. 250 the rules were suspended and the Sen- Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of Whereas the United States is engaged in ate joint resolution was passed. my time. military activity as a result of the terrorist A motion to reconsider was laid on Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield attacks of September 11, 2001; the table. myself such time as I may consume Whereas such acts continue to pose an un- usual and extraordinary threat to the na- f simply to concur with the chairman and urge support for this resolution. tional security and foreign policy of the GENERAL LEAVE Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I join with the United States, including the security of im- portant energy supplies; Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unani- Chairman in urging adoption of Senate Con- Whereas our Nation imports more than mous consent that all Members may current Resolution 67. half of the crude oil it consumes from other have 5 legislative days within which to This is a housekeeping measure allowing nations; revise and extend their remarks and in- the Chairman of the Senate Rules and Admin- Whereas Congress found in the Energy Pol- clude extraneous material on the sub- istration Committee to designate another icy and Conservation Act that the storage of ject of the Senate joint resolution just member of that panel to serve on the Joint substantial quantities of petroleum products passed, S.J. Res. 19. Committee on Printing in his place during the will diminish the vulnerability of the United The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there 107th Congress. States to the effects of a severe energy sup- ply interruption, and provide limited protec- objection to the request of the gen- By statute, the Senate membership of the tion from the short-term consequences of tleman from Ohio? Joint Committee on Printing consists of the interruptions in supplies of petroleum prod- There was no objection. Chairman and four members of the Committee ucts; f on Rules and Administration. In order for the Whereas a severe energy supply interrup- Senate to depart from that statutory scheme, tion would have an adverse impact upon PERMITTING CHAIRMAN OF COM- the House must concur, hence this concurrent American consumers and the economy; MITTEE ON RULES AND ADMIN- resolution. Whereas the Strategic Petroleum Reserve ISTRATION OF THE SENATE TO Anticipating adoption of this measure, the has an authorized capacity of 1,000,000,000 DESIGNATE ANOTHER MEMBER barrels of crude oil, a current storage capac- Senate has adopted a simple resolution elect- ity of 700,000,000 barrels of crude oil, and ap- OF COMMITTEE TO SERVE ON ing its members of the Joint Committee for the JOINT COMMITTEE ON PRINTING proximately 545,000,000 barrels of crude oil 107th Congress. If we clear this resolution, the currently in storage; and IN PLACE OF CHAIRMAN Joint Committee on Printing can organize and Whereas marginal wells in the United Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, I move to sus- proceed to its business. I urge an ‘‘aye’’ vote. States provide an important base of domes- pend the rules and concur in the Sen- Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield tic crude oil production, make an important ate concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. back the balance of my time. contribution to our workforce and economy, 67) permitting the Chairman of the Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield back are particularly sensitive to price fluctua- tions, and are difficult and costly to reopen: Committee on Rules and Administra- the balance of my time. Now, therefore, be it tion of the Senate to designate another The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Resolved, That the House of Representa- member of the Committee to serve on question is on the motion offered by tives urges the Secretary of Energy to in- the Joint Committee on Printing in the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. NEY) crease the capacity of the Strategic Petro- place of the Chairman. that the House suspend the rules and leum Reserve to 1,000,000,000 barrels of crude The Clerk read as follows: concur in the Senate concurrent reso- oil, to fill the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to its capacity as soon as practicable, and to S. CON. RES. 67 lution, S. Con. Res. 67. The question was taken; and (two- consider purchasing from marginal wells Resolved by the Senate (the House of Rep- that would otherwise cease production, con- resentatives concurring), That effective for the thirds having voted in favor thereof) sistent with current law. One Hundred Seventh Congress, the Chair- the rules were suspended and the Sen- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- man of the Committee on Rules and Admin- ate concurrent resolution was agreed istration of the Senate may designate an- to. ant to the rule, the gentleman from other member of the Committee to serve on A motion to reconsider was laid on Texas (Mr. BARTON) and the gentleman the Joint Committee on Printing in place of the table. from Maine (Mr. BALDACCI) each will the Chairman. control 20 minutes. f The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- The Chair recognizes the gentleman ant to the rule, the gentleman from PERMISSION FOR COMMITTEE ON from Texas (Mr. BARTON). Ohio (Mr. NEY) and the gentleman from ENERGY AND COMMERCE TO GENERAL LEAVE New York (Mr. SERRANO) each will con- FILE SUPPLEMENTAL REPORT Mr. BARTON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, trol 20 minutes. ON H.R. 3016, ANTITERRORISM I ask unanimous consent that all Mem- The Chair recognizes the gentleman AND EFFECTIVE DEATH PEN- bers may have 5 legislative days within Ohio (Mr. NEY). ALTY AMENDMENTS which to revise and extend their re- Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself Mr. BARTON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, marks and to include extraneous mate- such time as I may consume. I ask unanimous consent that the Com- rial on the resolution, H. Res. 250, as Mr. Speaker, Senate Concurrent Res- mittee on Energy and Commerce be al- amended. olution 67 permits the chairman of the lowed to file a supplemental report on The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there Senate’s Committee on Rules and Ad- the bill H.R. 3016. objection to the request of the gen- ministration to designate another The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there tleman from Texas? member of the committee to serve on objection to the request of the gen- There was no objection. the Joint Committee on Printing in tleman from Texas? Mr. BARTON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, place of the chairman. There was no objection. I yield myself such time as I may con- This is a very simple measure. I want f sume. to thank my colleague, however, today, Mr. Speaker, today the House is the gentleman from New York (Mr. URGING SECRETARY OF ENERGY going to consider a very important res- SERRANO), who has been so gracious TO FILL STRATEGIC PETROLEUM olution dealing with our energy secu- and patient today in helping to bring RESERVE rity. This is a bipartisan effort; and I proposals to the floor that are impor- Mr. BARTON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, would like to publicly thank the rank- tant to the operation of the House; and I move to suspend the rules and agree ing member of the subcommittee that I I want to also thank the gentleman to the resolution (H. Res. 250) urging chair, the gentleman from Virginia from Maryland (Mr. HOYER), our rank- the Secretary of Energy to fill the (Mr. BOUCHER), the full committee

VerDate jul 14 2003 21:58 Apr 25, 2005 Jkt 039102 PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 0688 Sfmt 0634 E:\BR01\H09OC1.000 H09OC1 October 9, 2001 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—HOUSE 19051 ranking member, the gentleman from Mr. Speaker, the resolution before us pleased the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Michigan (Mr. DINGELL), and of course indicates if we need to purchase oil we BARTON) has brought this forward and the full committee chairman, the gen- give preference to marginal wells or the committee has brought this for- tleman from Louisiana (Mr. TAUZIN), stripper wells, as they are called in the ward, especially today considering the for their excellent support on this reso- Southwest. These are wells that prices on the spot market. lution. produce less than 10 barrels a day. I support H. Res. 250, which urges the This is a nonbinding resolution, so it The last time we had an oil price col- Secretary to fill the Strategic Petro- does not require the Secretary of En- lapse several years ago, we lost be- leum Reserve. We worked very hard to ergy and the President of the United tween 500,000 and 1 million barrels of establish a heating oil reserve, which I States to move to fill the Strategic Pe- stripper well production that will never am pleased to report is at capacity. troleum Reserve; but it is my intent come back. But the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and my hope, and in working with the This resolution would encourage the does have additional capacity. administration officials the last sev- Secretary of Energy to give preference In the War Powers Resolution that eral weeks, that we will begin to do to marginal well purchases. It is au- we passed just a few weeks ago, we that. thorized by law that we purchase mar- found that acts of terrorism continue The Strategic Petroleum Reserve is ginal well domestic oil. This would to pose an unusual and extraordinary an important national asset. It was give preference to those purchases. threat to national security. Part of created in the 1970s, after the last Arab We think if we could purchase some that threat is to the security of our en- oil embargo that was imposed on the of this oil, we could buy it at a very in- ergy supplies, particularly those that United States and the Western democ- expensive price. The acquisition cost in we procure from the Middle East and racies by OPEC, the Organization of the reserve today is about $27 a barrel. other areas of the world. Petroleum Exporting Countries. We The world oil market price is around This is perhaps even more salient made a decision as a Nation to begin to $20 a barrel. When stripper well prices now that we are engaged in military stockpile oil so that never again would fall below $15 or $16 a barrel, they begin action in Afghanistan. The bill the gen- our economy be held hostage to oil im- to be shut down. If we subtract the roy- tleman from Texas (Mr. BARTON), the ports. Since that time, we have accu- alty and the taxes that they are pay- subcommittee chairman, and the gen- mulated as much as 600 million barrels ing, the severance taxes, stripper well tleman from Virginia (Mr. BOUCHER), of oil in the reserve. Today, we have prices are already at that $15 a barrel the ranking member, authored and the approximately 545 million barrels. price. It is not demanded by this reso- Subcommittee on Energy and Air Qual- lution that we purchase oil for the re- ity reported acknowledges this concern b 1445 serve from marginal wells, but it is and urges the Secretary of Energy to These reserves are in four sites on given a preference. take some very prudent steps to help the Gulf Coast, two in Texas and two in Mr. Speaker, I feel very strongly that guard against a disruption of energy Louisiana, and each of them has some- it is in our national interest to have supplies by using his existing authority where between 80 and 160 million bar- the Strategic Petroleum Reserve in a to fill the Strategic Petroleum Reserve rels of oil. state of readiness. I can state to the to its current maximum capacity of The reserve is authorized to have a Congress, I toured one of the sites at about 700 million barrels of oil. capacity of 1 billion barrels. It does not Big Hill down by Beaumont, Texas last At this time the reserve contains have that capacity in place. It has ca- week. Their security was excellent. only about 545 million barrels of oil, so pacity to actually store about 700 mil- Their operational capability was 100 we could increase our Nation’s insur- lion. As I said earlier, there are 545 mil- percent. They told me that they could ance against an oil supply shock by lion barrels currently in the reserve. begin pumping within a day of the nearly 40 percent if we fill the reserve We import about 12 million barrels a President giving the order to do it, per- to capacity. day. Some of that oil comes from na- haps within hours if given the order to This is also a very opportune mo- tions that are not friendly to the do it. ment in fiscal terms for the Secretary United States of America; Iraq is a na- Ironically, they said that they would to fill the reserve. Prices for crude oil tion that comes to mind. There is a dis- not be able to start drawing down the and gasoline at the pump have fallen a tinct possibility in the next several oil that quickly because of the paper- great deal in the last month, so it will months as the President pursues ter- work requirements. Because of senior cost the taxpayer less now to fill the rorists and those that harbor them, we officials in the DOE and the need to do reserve than it would have a month may need to take military action a bidding process, it might take 14 to 15 ago. For instance, the day before the against some of these nations that we days before they could actually draw attack on our Nation spot prices for are receiving oil imports from, so it down the oil. But operationally, they crude averaged slightly more than $25 a would behoove us to have in place the could draw it down immediately. barrel. Today, the spot price for the ability to use this reserve and to begin Mr. Speaker, this is a very, very good same product has fallen below $20 per filling the reserve to its full capacity. resolution. It has passed the Sub- barrel, a 20 percent decrease in price. We could put approximately 155 mil- committee on Energy and Air Quality We should act now, because any supply lion barrels of oil in the capacity that with the full support of all members on disruption, even if it does not threaten we have. The negotiations and the both sides of the aisle. The gentleman our security, could end up increasing work that we are doing right now with from Louisiana (Mr. TAUZIN) and the the cost to our constituents of filling DOE officials and Bush administration gentleman from Michigan (Mr. DIN- the reserve. officials would be to take oil in kind GELL) have agreed to bring it straight The resolution also urges the Sec- from the Federal OCS. We could re- to the floor without going to the full retary of Energy to expand the reserve ceive approximately 170,000 barrels per committee because of the cooperative to its fully authorized capacity of 1 bil- day and put that oil into the reserve. nature of the resolution. I hope that we lion barrels. This is an important long- There would be no out-of-pocket cost can adopt this by unanimous consent. term position that is supported by to the U.S. Treasury if we did that; and Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of Members on a bipartisan basis. By fully in doing that kind of swap, we should my time. realizing the potential of the Strategic be able to get to 700 million barrels Mr. BALDACCI. Mr. Speaker, I yield Petroleum Reserve, we could nearly without any extraneous expense. myself such time as I may consume. double our protection against a severe If we want to go to the 1 billion bar- Mr. BALDACCI. Mr. Speaker, I want supply disruption from what we have rels, if the reserve is authorized, we to point out earlier this year in Sep- today. will need to appropriate funds to build tember I sent a letter to the Secretary Finally, the resolution urges the Sec- additional capacity, and we may need of Energy suggesting to him that he retary to consider purchasing oil for to appropriate funds to purchase oil. also be able to look at this, and I am the reserve from marginal wells that

VerDate jul 14 2003 21:58 Apr 25, 2005 Jkt 039102 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 0688 Sfmt 0634 E:\BR01\H09OC1.000 H09OC1 19052 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—HOUSE October 9, 2001

would otherwise cease production in a from New York (Mr. SWEENEY), and (b) REFERENCES.—Any reference in a law, manner consistent with current law. others on the Republican side to move map, regulation, document, paper, or other Marginal wells are an important re- that legislation in the last Congress. record of the United States to the facility re- source, and there is strong bipartisan Mr. Speaker, I do not want to belabor ferred to in subsection (a) shall be deemed to be a reference to the Herbert H. Bateman support for ensuring the continued op- the point on the Strategic Petroleum Post Office Building. eration of these wells. Reserve. Suffice it to say it is another Although this resolution does not tool in our country’s arsenal as we go The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- carry the force of law, it does send an after terrorists. We do not want to give ant to the rule, the gentlewoman from important message to the administra- any terrorist anywhere in the world Virginia (Mrs. JO ANN DAVIS) and the tion and others that there is strong the idea that they can blackmail us gentleman from Illinois (Mr. DAVIS) support for filling the Strategic Petro- economically by shutting off our oil each will control 20 minutes. leum Reserve to its maximum author- supply. The Chair recognizes the gentle- ized capacity, and it does it in a way We have invested so far in the reserve woman from Virginia (Mrs. JO ANN that is respectful and consistent with approximately $15 billion in 1998 dol- DAVIS). both current law and the War Powers lars. For a very small incremental GENERAL LEAVE Resolution we recently passed. cost, we can fill the reserve to its full Mrs. JO ANN DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to 1 billion barrel capacity, and it will be Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that support the legislation. available to be used by the President of all Members may have 5 legislative CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES, the United States if he sees fit to uti- days within which to revise and extend HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, lize it to protect our economy. their remarks on the bill, H.R. 1749. Washington, DC, September 28, 2001. Mr. Speaker, I hope we can pass this The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there SPENCER ABRAHAM, with all yeas and no nays, to send a objection to the request of the gentle- Secretary, Department of Energy, Independence very strong signal to our potential en- woman from Virginia? Avenue, Washington, DC. emies around the world that we are not There was no objection. DEAR SECRETARY ABRAHAM: I am writing to Mrs. JO ANN DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. encourage the Department to take steps to only ready to fight terrorism dip- fully stock the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. lomatically and militarily, but we are Speaker, I yield myself such time as I At this time of low oil prices, it makes sense also ready to use our economic might if may consume. to ensure that we have a full Reserve to pro- we have to. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support tect us from potential instability in the fu- Mr. Speaker, I have no further re- of H.R. 1749. This legislation will name ture. quests for time, and I yield back the the local Post Office at 685 Turnberry It is my understanding that the SPR cur- balance of my time. Road in Newport News as the ‘‘Herbert rently holds about 544 million barrels of oil Mr. BALDACCI. Mr. Speaker, I yield H. Bateman Post Office Building,’’ and that its capacity is 700 million barrels. I after former Representative Herb Bate- believe we should take advantage of the rel- back the balance of my time. atively low oil prices we are enjoying to fill The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. man, who represented the First Con- the Reserve to capacity. As you know, these PETRI). The question is on the motion gressional District of Virginia for 9 reserves can be used to protect our nation offered by the gentleman from Texas terms in the United States Congress. against interruptions in petroleum supply. (Mr. BARTON) that the House suspend Herb Bateman was a true Virginia In these uncertain times, I believe that we the rules and agree to the resolution, gentleman and a great American pa- should have the maximum possible reserve H. Res. 250, as amended. triot. His loyalty to our Nation and his supply to ensure that we are able to meet The question was taken. unyielding efforts to ensure its protec- our nation’s energy needs under a variety of tion have always been met with great contingencies. The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. While prices are low, I realize that pur- PETRI). In the opinion of the Chair, admiration. Considering the current chasing the additional oil will require addi- two-thirds of those present have voted events of the day, his fervent support tional resources. I would be willing to sup- in the affirmative. for our Nation’s armed forces takes on port increased appropriations for the Depart- Mr. BARTON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, an even more significant role. ment of Energy to be dedicated to this pur- on that I demand the yeas and nays. Herb Bateman will always be remem- pose. The yeas and nays were ordered. bered in the First Congressional Dis- Thank you for your consideration of this The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- trict as a loyal public servant of the matter. With best wishes, ant to clause 8 of rule XX and the people, and an honorable and dedicated Sincerely, Chair’s prior announcement, further man. This postal renaming legislation JOHN E. BALDACCI, proceedings on this motion will be demonstrates our deep respect and Member of Congress. postponed. gratitude for Herb’s tireless service to Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of f the betterment of our community, Vir- ginia and our great Nation. my time. HERBERT H. BATEMAN POST The First District will always re- Mr. BARTON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, OFFICE BUILDING I yield myself such time as I may con- member his numerous contributions to sume. Mrs. JO ANN DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. the area. The Herbert H. Bateman Post Mr. Speaker, we have no other speak- Speaker, I move to suspend the rules Office is a fitting tribute to our friend. ers so I am going to wrap this up and pass the bill (H.R. 1749) to des- His service to the defense of our coun- quickly. I thank the gentleman from ignate the facility of the United States try, the betterment of our waterways Maine (Mr. BALDACCI) for his excellent Postal Service located at 685 Turnberry and infrastructure, and his numerous work in the last Congress on the Re- Road in Newport News, Virginia, as the other accomplishments will not soon fined Products Reserve. That reserve is ‘‘Herbert H. Bateman Post Office be forgotten. I encourage all Members in place. We have checked with DOE of- Building’’. to support H.R. 1749. ficials, and it is full. It is ready to be The Clerk read as follows: Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of utilized if there is a shortage of fuel oil H.R. 1749 my time. this winter in the Northeast. Hopefully Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep- Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I there will not be. It is another example resentatives of the United States of America in yield myself such time as I may con- of the fine bipartisanship that we have Congress assembled, sume. on this subcommittee and the full com- SECTION 1. HERBERT H. BATEMAN POST OFFICE Mr. Speaker, as a member of the mittee. The gentleman from Massachu- BUILDING. Committee on Government Reform, I (a) DESIGNATION.—The facility of the setts (Mr. MARKEY) and the gentleman United States Postal Service located at 685 am pleased to join my colleague in the from Virginia (Mr. BOUCHER) worked Turnberry Road in Newport News, Virginia, consideration of a postal naming bill. with the gentleman from New York shall be known and designated as the ‘‘Her- H.R. 1749, which names a Post Office in (Mr. FOSSELLA) and the gentleman bert H. Bateman Post Office Building’’. Newport News, Virginia, after Herbert

VerDate jul 14 2003 21:58 Apr 25, 2005 Jkt 039102 PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 0688 Sfmt 0634 E:\BR01\H09OC1.000 H09OC1