Drilling in ANWR June 15, 2004

DRILLING IN ANWR -- (House of Representatives - June 15, 2004)

(Mr. BURGESS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, energy and independence should be a goal of this Congress. Worldwide demand for petroleum has increased in the last decade. The growth in production has been relatively flat. The inevitable result is in higher prices at the gasoline pump. This reality is that it takes time to go from an oil field to the gasoline station, and we have lost a considerable amount of time.

In 1995, the 104th Congress passed H.R. 2491, which 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 President Clinton, and that was nearly 10 years ago. Given a time line of 7 to 14 years for building a pipeline structure, it is time we could scarcely afford to waste.

Mr. Speaker, I have been to ANWR. The vast coastal plain is unsuitable for habitation during the summer months because of the marshy consistency of that plain. Any caribou unlucky enough to calve in this region would likely die from exsanguination at the hands of mosquitoes there.

The people who live in ANWR are counting on this Congress to do the right thing and allow them, the rightful owners of these mineral rights, to begin developing resources.