December 19, 1973
Page 42465
Mr. MUSKIE. Mr. President, I do not want to get into detailed discussion or the amendment, because it has been adequately done.
I support the amendment. I do so in the context of our need to get more information. My Governor complains constantly that he finds it is impossible to get basic information as to the availability of oil, without which he cannot tell constituents what they must plan on and what programs they are to support.
I am constantly asked those questions, and I ask unanimous consent to include them in the RECORD at this point.
There being no objection, the questions were ordered to be printed in the RECORD, as follows:
QUESTIONS FOR THE ADMINISTRATION FROM GOVERNOR CURTIS OF MAINE
1. What information does the Federal Government now have regarding the following:
A. Product inventories held domestically by all major oil companies.
B. Crude inventories held domestically by all major oil companies.
C. The volumes of untapped crude reserve in the United States.
D. Foreign product holdings of domestically owned international oil companies.
E. Foreign crude holdings.
2. If this information is available, on what basis are companies now allocating products at certain percentage levels? May we assume that each company calculated its December allocation so as to leave enough in reserve to maintain that allocation fraction throughout the season? If it is not, what does the Administration intend to do to accumulate such data?
3. To what extent will import dependent regions of the country be more adversely affected by shortages than those portions which have been traditionally supported with domestic products? How has this been determined and what steps are planned to make sure this burden is spread evenly across the country? By what criteria were these measures priced?
4. In attempting to encourage domestic oil refiners to produce more middle distillates than gasoline, was any consideration given to direct subsidies from the Federal Government in lieu of presently contemplated compensation through price adjustments.
5. Will the procedures outlined in the proposed modifications of the middle distillate program be adopted as a model for residual oil and gasoline allocations?
6. Prior to suggesting the creation of Local Boards for the implementation of the middle distillate program, did the Administration make any effort to determine the ability of State and local governments to undertake such an effort in terms of financing and personnel? If so (or if not) on what basis was it determined that this delegation of responsibility was a reasonable manner in which to effectuate an allocation program?
Did the Administration intend that Federal financial support would be available in this effort as is suggested in the Energy Emergency Act now before the House? If so, has any budget estimate been prepared?
7. Why has the decision regarding gasoline rationing been so long forestalled? Is it the case that each State governor has in his vault gasoline rationing plates which could be immediately used to print coupons on decentralized bases?
8. In devising priorities for the allocation of scarce fuels, what consideration was given to peculiar conditions existing in various states, particularly those where home heating is major consuming sector in various product lines (in Maine, for example, 80% of the kerosene is used to heat homes and an allocation to priority users as proposed would certainly mean some homes would not receive enough oil to remain habitable. Incidentally, those homes using kerosene are trailer homes usually occupied by the people least equipped financially to cope with this problem).
Mr. MUSKIE. Mr. President, this is a list of questions the Governor might find helpful in getting answers to in undertaking to discharge his responsibilities not only under the State programs he has initiated but under the Federal programs. Without information, this program will not work.
When I get back to my State one question I get from my constituents is: "Senator, is this shortage real or is it contrived?" I would like to get information in order to respond.
Mr. JACKSON. Mr. President, will the Senator yield?
Mr. MUSKIE. I yield.
Mr. JACKSON. Would the Senator agree there has really been a tremendous controversy in this country in the last few weeks particularly brought about by the allegation of the export of petroleum products at a time when this country is in short supply?
Would the Senator agree that it is important that Congress be able to investigate these exports, and that the only way in which we can really find out is first to check with the Department of Commerce and get a record of all exports in this area. And we cannot get it now.
Mr. MUSKIE. The story that triggered it all was a story about a month ago that reported that the exports had increased this year by 240 percent.
Everywhere that I went, in Maine and elsewhere in the country, I was asked, "Why are we exporting so much oil when we need it at home?" That may be justified, but we do not know that.
Mr. JACKSON. But how can we determine the merits and demerits of it if the Congress is prohibited from getting the basic information by an act of Congress? This does not make any sense.
This is what I am trying to do here.
Mr. MUSKIE. Mr. President, I compliment the Senator from Washington on his amendment, and I support his amendment.
I hope that the Senate not only passes the legislation sponsored by the Senator from Washington and other Senators, but also secures an energy response on this appeal for information.