American-Made Energy and Good Jobs Act

AMERICAN-MADE ENERGY AND GOOD JOBS ACT

Ms. McCOLLUM of Minnesota. Madam Speaker, I rise today to strongly oppose H.R. 5429, the so-called American-Made Energy and Good Jobs Act, which attempts to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to industrial development.

In March we were reminded of the potential environmental consequences of drilling in the refuge when an Alaskan pipeline leaked 200,000 gallons of crude oil onto the surrounding slope. This is the largest spill ever in the North Slope and a timely caution against opening the Arctic Refuge to drilling.

Because I have visited the Arctic Refuge and seen its unique wilderness first hand, such news strengthens my resolve to protect the refuge and press for real solutions to our country's energy challenges.

This bill would do nothing more than continue our pattern of unchecked consumption. It is another attempt to sell Americans the false promise of easy answers on energy policy.

Our energy situation will not change until Congress gets serious about tackling America's oil dependence. With the booming economies of China and India squeezing global oil supply, and political instability among key oil producing countries like Iran, Nigeria and Iraq, we should expect rising oil prices for some time to come.

This proposal to open ANWR is a short-sighted answer to a long-term problem. I urge my colleagues to vote against the rule and the underlying bill.

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