{ NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT OF THE SENATE PROCEEDINGS.}
I HOPE IT'S VERY CLEAR THAT SENATOR ROBERTS AND I ARE NOT
ADVOCATING A RETREAT FROM AMERICA'S GLOBAL LEADERSHIP ROLE AND
WE'RE NOT ADVOCATING A NEW FORM OF ISOLATIONISM. WE BOTH
BELIEVE OUR COUNTRY HAS SUBSTANTIAL AND INESCAPEABLE
SELF-INTERESTS WHICH NECESSITATE OUR LEADERSHIP. HOWEVER, WHEN
IT COMES TO THE WAY WE EXERCISE THAT LEADERSHIP, A --
ESPECIALLY WHEN IT INVOLVES MILITARY FORCE, WE DO BELIEVE THAT
{19:30:35} (MR. CLELAND) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
OUR NATIONAL INTERESTS SOMETIMES REQUIRE THAT WE USE THAT
REALISTIC RESTRAINT. THE ALTERNATIVES, WHETHER A UNILATERALISM
WHICH IMPOSES DWECT RESOURCE COSTS FAR BEYOND WHAT THE CONGRESS
AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE HAVE SHOWN A WILLINGNESS TO FINANCE, OR
AN ISOLATIONISM WHICH WOULD FAIL TO SECURE OUR NATIONAL
INTERESTS IN THIS INCREASINGLY INTERCONNECTED WORLD, OR IN OUR
JUDGMENT, UNACCEPTABLE. OVER THE COURSE OF THESE DIALOGUES,
SENATOR ROBERTS AND I HAVE BOTH TURNED TO THE FOLLOWING WORDS
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FROM THE EDITOR OF THE PUBLICATION, "NATIONAL INTEREST," OWEN
HAREGS. HE SAID, "I ADVOCATE RESTRAINT. BECAUSE HE SAID, "EVERY
DOMINANT POWER IN THE LAST FOUR CENTURIES THAT HAS NOT
PRACTICED IT, THAT HAS BEEN EXCESSIVELY INTRUSIVE AND
DEMANDING, HAS ULTIMATELY BEEN CONFRONTED BY A HOS ALTERNATIVE
COALITION OF OTHER POWERS -- A HOSTILE COALITION OF OTHER
POWERS. AMERICANS MAY BELIEVE THAT THEIR COUNTRY BEING
EXCEPTIONAL NEED HAVE NO WORRIES IN THIS RESPECT," HE SAID. "I
{19:31:40} (MR. CLELAND) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
DO NOT AGREE," HE WROTE. "IT'S NOT WHAT AMERICANS THINK OF THE
UNITED STATES, BUT WHAT OTHERS THINK OF IT THAT WILL DECIDE THE
MATTER." IT'S INTERESTING, MR. PRESIDENT, THAT ON HIS DESK AT
THE PENTAGON WHEN HE WAS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF
STAFF, GENERAL COLIN POWELL KEPT A QUOTE FROM THE GREAT
ATHENIAN HISTORIAN THUYCIDES. AND THAT QUOTE SAID THIS, "OF ALL
MANIFESTATION OF POWER, RESTRAINT IMPRESSS MAN MOST." MR.
PRESIDENT, WITH THAT, AND WITH GREAT THANKS TO MY DISTINGUISHED
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COLLEAGUE, SENATOR ROBERTS AND TO THE SENATE, I CONCLUDE THESE
DIALOGUES ON THE GLOBAL ROLE OF THE UNITED STATES. I YIELD THE
{19:32:24 NSP} (MR. PRESIDENT. A SENATOR) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
FLOOR, MR. PRESIDENT. A SENATOR: MR. PRESIDENT?
{19:32:27 NSP} (THE PRESIDING OFFICER) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE DISTINGUISHED SENATOR FROM ALABAMA
IS RECOGNIZED.
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MR. SESSIONS: I WOULD THANK THE CHAIR. I HAVE BEEN FASCINATED
AND INFORMED BY THE KOL IF I THAT'S BEEN ONGOING -- COLLOQUY
THAT'S BEEN ONGOING BETWEEN THE CHAIR, THE SENATOR FROM CAN
SARX AND THE SENATOR FROM GEORGIA, BEEN ARREST IN ORDER TO
SERVE ON THE -- BEEN HONORED TO SERVE ON THE COMMITTEE WITH THE
TWO OF YOU. IT IS INDEED TIME AND APPROPRIATE THAT WE BEGIN TO
THINK THROUGH CLEARLY WHAT THE ROLE OF THE UNITED STATES IS,
WHAT THE ROLE OF CONGRESS IS IN ESTABLISHING THE UNITED STATES
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POLICY. AND I THANK YOU FOR THAT -- THOSE OBSERVATIONS. VERY,
VERY VALUABLE. I AGREE WITH YOU THAT WE NEED TO INVOLVE THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE IN THIS. THE GREAT AMERICAN EXPERIMENT THAT'S
GUIDED US SO FAR HAS BEEN TO ALLOW THE PEOPLE TO RULE. WE DON'T
NEED TO DO IT UNDER THE TABLE WITHOUT FULL AND OPEN DEBATE. AND
I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT WE MUST NOT AS A NATION ABDICATE OUR
ABILITY TO ACT UNILATERALLY BY OURSELVES WITH OUR -- WHEN OUR
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NATIONAL INTEREST IS AT STAKE, ELSE WHY HAVE WE INVESTED SO
GREATLY TO ESTABLISH THIS MAGNIFICENT MILITARY THAT WE HAVE?
WE CAN'T RELY ON A MAJORITY VOTE OF THE U.N. WE CAN'T RELY ON
THE FACT WE MAY -- THAT WE CAN OVERRIDE OR VOID A VETO IN
SECURITY COUNCIL. SO WE'VE GOT TO BE PREPARED TO TAKE CARE OF
OUR OWN INTEREST. AND I THANK YOU FOR THAT DIALOGUE. MR.
PRESIDENT, ENERGY PRICES ARE GOING UP. GASOLINE PRICES ARE UP.
I DOUBT THERE ARE MANY FAMILIES THAT DON'T SPEND $60 A MONTH ON
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GASOLINE FOR THEIR FAMILY. THOSE WHO COMMUTE, THOSE WHO HAVE
CHILDREN WITH VEHICLES AND A HUSBAND AND WIFE WORKING MAY HAVE
TWO OR THREE VEHICLES PER FAMILY AND NOT BE WEALTHY. THEY MAY
BE PAYING $100 A MONTH OR MORE FOR GASOLINE. IF YOU ARE PAYING
$60 A MONTH BILL FOR GASOLINE 18 MONTHS AGO, YOU'RE NOW PAYING
OVER $90 A MONTH. IF YOU WERE PAYING $100 A MONTH LAST YEAR,
YOU'RE PROBABLY PAYING OVER $150 A MONTH THIS YEAR. THAT IS A
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$5 A MONTH, A $30 A MONTH, PERHAPS MORE IN SOME FAMILIES,
WITHDRAWN FROM THE USABLE INCOME OF THAT FAMILY. MONEY THAT
THEY NO LONGER CAN BUY SHOES WITH, A NEW SET OF TIRES FOR THEIR
CAR, TO GO ON A VACATION WITH THEIR CHILDREN, TAKE THE KIDS TO
BALL GAME, BUY SHOES FOR THEM TO PLAY SOCCER OR BASKETBALL OR
BASEBALL OR VOLUNTARILY BALL. THOSE KIND OF THINGS, THAT REAL
AFTER-TAX MONEY THAT AMERICAN CITIZENS HAD 15, 18 MONTHS AGO,
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$50 A MONTH EXTRA THEY NO LONGER HAVE TODAY. THAT'S BECAUSE THE
PRICE OF ENERGY HAS GONE UP. IN ADDITION, BUSINESSES ARE FACING
THOSE SAME INCREASES. I TRAVELED A FEW MONTHS AGO, A COUPLE OF
MONTHS AGO WITH A TRUCK DRIVER AND HIS WIFE WHO DRIVE FULL
TIME, AND I TRAVELED FROM NORTH OF BIRMINGHAM TO CLANTON TO
MONTGOMERY AND DISCUSSED WITH THEM THE PROBLEMS THEY'RE FACING.
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THEY'RE PAYING UP TO $800 TO $1,000 A MONTH EXTRA FOR FUEL FOR
THEIR BUSINESS OF OPERATING THEIR TRUCK. AND THEY TRY TO PASS
IT ON, WHICH INCREASES COSTS DOWN THE ROAD. BUT THEY'RE NOT
ABLE TO PASS IT ALL ON. IT'S REDUCING THEIR STANDARD OF LIVING.
SO THEY HAVE IN EFFECT LESS MONEY TO GO TO THE STORE AND BUY
PRODUCTS WITH. AND WHAT DOES THAT ULTIMATELY MEAN, MR.
PRESIDENT?
IT MEANS THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE LESS WIDGETS BOUGHT. THERE
ARE GOING TO BE LESS SHOES BOUGHT. THERE ARE GOING TO BE LESS
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NEW CARS BOUGHT, LESS NEW HOUSES BOUGHT, AND MANY OTHER THINGS
THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO PURCHASE WE WILL THOUGHT BE ABLE TO
PURCHASE BECAUSE OPEC, THROUGH ITS PRICE-GOUGING CARTEL, HAS
FIXED THE OIL AND GAS PRICES AND DRIVEN THEM UP TO AN
EXTRAORDINARY DEGREE. AND AS A RESULT OF THAT, IT'S HURTING US.
WE KNOW THIS. WE KNOW THE ECONOMY APPEARS TO HAVE SOME SLOWING.
WE KNOW THAT PROFIT MARGINS ACROSS THE BOARD HAVE BEEN
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SHRINKING SIGNIFICANTLY. AND WE KNOW THAT HIGHER ENERGY COSTS
ARE A BIG REASON FOR THAT. I SAY THAT BECAUSE WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT SOME VERY, VERY BIG ISSUES. IF YOU DON'T HAVE MONEY TO
PURCHASE, LET'S SAY YOU PURCHASE EIGHT THINGS THIS MONTH
INSTEAD OF WHAT YOU WOULD NORMALLY PURCHASE, TEN, THERE'S
SOMEBODY WOULD HAVE MADE THOSE OTHER TWO ITEMS. SOMEBODY WOULD
HAVE SOLD THOSE OTHER TWO ITEMS. THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO DO THAT
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TODAY. THEY MAY NOT BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT. SO WHAT
DOES THAT DO TO THE PRODUCING BUSINESS?
IT PUTS STRESS ON THEM. IT CAN COOL OFF THE THING THAT HAS
BLESSED US FOR QUITE A NUMBER OF YEARS TODAY, AND THAT'S THIS
ROBUST ECONOMY. KOFI ANNAN, THE SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE U.N.,
WROTE AN EDITORIAL RECENTLY. HE POINTS OUT HOW IT HURTS POOR
NATIONS MORE THAN WEALTHY NATIONS. BUT IT HURTS WEALTHY NATIONS
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TOO. AND WEALTHY NATIONS ARE HURT WHEN POOR NATIONS DON'T HAVE
MONEY TO BUY PRODUCTS FROM US. WE SELL ALL OVER THE WORLD, AND
THAT SORT OF THING. SO WHATEVER COOLS OFF THE ENTIRE WORLD
ECONOMY COOLS OFF THE AMERICAN ECONOMY AND JEOPARDIZES JOBS.
WHAT IS THIS THAT CAUSED US TO GET TO THIS POINT?
I WOULD SAY TO YOU WITH REAL CONFIDENCE THAT IT IS THE
CLINTON-GORE POLICIES, PRIMARILY VICE PRESIDENT AL GORE'S
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ENERGY POLICIES, THAT HAVE BEEN INVOLVED HERE. THE SIMPLE FACT
IS THAT THOSE POLICIES ARE DRIVEN BY AND MOTIVATED AT THE
DEEPEST LEVEL BY HIS ADOPTION OF A RADICAL NO-GROWTH AGENDA
THAT'S PLAYING IN HIS BOOK. HE SET IT OUT SOME YEARS AGO.
PEOPLE ARE ASTOUNDED WHO READ THAT BOOK, BECAUSE IT WAS DEEPLY
REVEALING OF A PHILOSOPHY THAT WE OUGHT TO REDUCE SPENDING ON
ENERGY AND THAT THAT SOMEHOW DRIVES UP COST. WE'LL USE LESS
{19:39:20} (MR. SESSIONS) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
OIL, LESS GAS AND WE'LL RIDE BUY CYCLES AND USE SOLAR CELLS AND
THOSEZE KIND OF THINGS. AND THAT'S HOW WE'RE GOING TO MEET OUR
NATIONAL ENERGY POLICY. THE TROUBLE IS SOLAR CELLS COST FIVE,
TEN TIMES AS MUCH AS FOSSIL FUELS TO PRODUCE ENERGY. WHO'S
GOING TO PAY FOR THAT?
WORKING AMERICANS ARE GOING TO PAY FOR THAT WHILE SOME ELITE
THOUGHT PEOPLE THINK IT'S A COOL IDEA, THEY'RE NOT PAYING THE
PRICE FOR IT. THEY CAN AFFORD TO PAY IT PERHAPS. SO WE'RE INTO
{19:39:55} (MR. SESSIONS) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
THAT MOOD NOW. AND THIS RADICAL AGENDA IS DEMONSTRATED BY THE
POLICIES THAT HAVE BEEN CARRIED OUT SYSTEMATICALLY SINCE THIS
ADMINISTRATION TOOK OFFICE. IT'S BEEN STEADY AND IT'S BEEN
REGULAR. THEY HAVEN'T SAID IT. THEY HAVEN'T SAID OUR POLICY IS
TO RAISE PRICES. THEY'RE TOO CLEVER FOR THAT. THEY'RE NOT GOING
TO ALLOW THAT SPIN TO GET ABOUT. BUT WHAT HAVE THEY DONE
AGAINST THIS CONSISTENT OPPOSITION OF MEMBERS ON THIS BODY WHO
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HAVE WARNED OVER AND OVER AGAIN THAT REDUCING PRODUCTION OF
AMERICAN FUELS WERE GOING TO LEAD US TO A CRISIS?
WHAT HAVE THEY DONE?
THEY HAVE -- THEY OPPOSED DRILLING IN THE ANWR REGION OF
ALASKA, THAT HAS HUGE RESERVES EQUAL TO 30 YEARS PRODUCTION OF
SAUDI ARABIA, IN THIS ONE LITTLE AREA. IT AMOUNTS TO THE SIZE
OF DULLES AIR FORCE BASE -- AIRFIELD IN AN AREA THE SIZE OF
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NORTH CAROLINA. A VERY SMALL AREA WITH HUGE RESERVES. THEY
VETOED LEGISLATION THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO PRODUCE OIL AND GAS
THERE, THAT COULD HELP MEET OUR NEEDS OVER VIGOROUS DEBATE IN
THIS SENATE AND A STRONG MAJORITY VOTE, VETOED BY THE GORE
ADMINISTRATION. WHAT ELSE?
THEY STEADFASTLY OPPOSED NUCLEAR POWER. FRANCE HAS GONE TO 60%
OF THEIR POWER FROM NUCLEAR, MOVING UP TO 80%. INDUSTRIALIZED
NATIONS REALIZE IT'S THE CLEANEST, SAFEST OF ALL SOURCES OF
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ENERGY, WITH UNLIMITED CAPACITY TO PRODUCE ELECTRICITY, WITH NO
AIR POLLUTION, VIRTUALLY NO AIR POLLUTION, AND ONLY A SMALL
AMOUNT OF WASTE, THAT WE COULD EASILY STORE IN THE NEVADA
DESERT. BUT, OH NO, THE PRESIDENT, CLINTON AND GORE, VICE
PRESIDENT GORE, VETOED THE ABILITY OF US TO STORE THAT WASTE IN
NEVADA DESERT, THEREFORE, HELPING SHUT DOWN OUR NUCLEAR ENERGY.
WE HAVEN'T BROUGHT ON A NUCLEAR PLANT IN OVER 20 YEARS IN THIS
COUNTRY. WE ARE DENYING OURSELVES THAT CAPACITY TO PRODUCE
{19:42:06} (MR. SESSIONS) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
ENERGY. THERE ARE HUGE RESERVES OF NATURAL GAS IN THE ROCKY
MOUNTAIN AREAS. NATURAL GAS IS THE CLEANEST-BURNING OF ALL OUR
FOSSIL FUELS, ALL OUR ELECTRIC-GENERATING PLANTS TODAY ARE
NATURAL GAS PLANTS. AND WE'RE HITTING A CRISIS IN PRODUCTION OF
NATURAL GAS. THEY REFUSE TO ALLOW THOSE FEDERAL LANDS IN THE
ROCKY MOUNTAIN AREAS, ALMOST ALL OF IT OWNED BY THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT, TO PRODUCE NATURAL GAS, WHICH ISN'T A DANGEROUS
FUEL TO PRODUCE. IT DOESN'T POUR OIL ALL OUT ON THE GROUND.
{19:42:44} (MR. SESSIONS) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
IT'S AN EVAP RA ALTERNATIVE GAS AND IT'S SAFE TO -- EVAPORATIVE
GAS AND IT'S SAFE TO PRODUCE. THEY WERE OPPOSED DRILLING
OFFSHORE. IN FACT, VICE PRESIDENT IN NEW HAMPSHIRE DURING HIS
CAMPAIGNING PROMISED NOT ONLY TO NOT APPROVE ANY ADDITIONAL
OFFSHORE DRILINGZ OF NATURAL GAS, BUT TO CONSIDER ROLLING BACK
EXISTING LEASES THAT HAD ALREADY BEEN ISSUED. HOW ARE WE GOING
TO MEET OUR ENERGY NEEDS FOR NATURAL GAS IF WE CAN'T PRODUCE IT?
{19:43:17} (MR. SESSIONS) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
THERE ARE MANY OTHER AREAS IN WHICH WE HAVE THROUGH REGULATION
-- WE'VE BASICALLY SHUT OFF COAL AS A VIABLE OPTION FOR
EXPANDING OUR ENERGY NEEDS. AND IN FACT, EVEN THOUGH WE'RE MUCH
MORE EFFICIENT THAN WE'VE EVER BEEN WITH ELECTRIC ENERGY, WE
NEED MORE. THE PROJECTIONS ARE WE'LL HAVE A SUBSTANTIAL
INCREASE IN DEMAND EVEN THOUGH WE ARE IMPROVING OUR EFFICIENCY
STEADILY. SO THAT'S THE PROBLEM WE ARE FACING. THE PROBLEM IS
THAT WHEN OPEC REALIZED OUR DEMAND WAS INCREASING AND THE WORLD
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DEMAND WAS INCREASING AND OUR OWN DOMESTIC PRODUCTION WAS
DECREASING 14% WHILE THE DEMANDS WERE GOING UP 18% OR 20%, THEY
WERE ABLE TO REDUCE PRODUCTION, FORCE THE PRICE UP TO
EXORBITANT LEVELS, AND MAKE THEMSELVES RICH OFF OF THIS. IN
FACT, IT WAS A POLITICAL DECISION BY GOVERNMENTAL LEADERS TO
FORCE THE PRICE UP. IT WAS NOT EVEN A FREE-MARKET DECISION. IT
WAS A POLITICAL DECISION BY THE LEADERS OF THESE OIL-PRODUCING
{19:44:24} (MR. SESSIONS) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
NATIONS WHO, BECAUSE OF OUR FAILURE TO PRODUCE, HAD BECOME
DEPENDENT ON THEIR OIL. AND THEY COULD DEMAND WHAT THECHTED TO
IN PRICE. OUR POLITICIANS LOST TO THEIR POLITICIANS. THEIR
POLITICIANS BEAT OUR POLITICIANS. AND WHO'S PAYING THE PRICE?
THE AMERICAN CITIZEN WHEN HE GOES TO THE GAS PUMP, WHEN HE BUYS
HIS HEATING OIL, WHEN HE GOES AND BUYS A PRODUCT THAT'S MORE
EXPENSIVE TODAY THAN IT WAS EARLIER BECAUSE INCREASED GASOLINE
{19:44:55} (MR. SESSIONS) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
PRICES IN THE WHOLE PRODUCTION SYSTEM. THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENED.
WE HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO THE CLEANERS. AND IT'S NOT AS IF -- TO ME,
{END: 2000/10/03 TIME: 19-45 , Tue. 106TH SENATE, SECOND SESSION}
{ NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT OF THE SENATE PROCEEDINGS.}