December 17, 1975
Page 41195
Mr. MUSKIE. Mr. President, ever since the OPEC embargo plunged the world into the energy crisis 2 years ago, our Nation has been muddling along with no real, comprehensive energy policy. As a result, the very complex problems of energy price, supply and conservation have been even further complicated by political problems such as Presidential threats to decontrol domestic prices and partisan disputes of who is to blame.
We have an opportunity today to put an end to these problems. We have an opportunity today to give our approval to a rational, comprehensive energy policy for the Nation.
This policy, embodied in S. 622, the Energy Policy and Conservation Act, is not a product of partisan politics, as one might surmise by reading the list of those who signed the conference report. It is, rather, the end result of a thoughtful and bipartisan committee effort, which was marked by an unusual amount of participation by Administration officials. These officials, in fact, assured the conference committee members that the agreed to bill would be acceptable to the administration. And while the President has not yet chosen to indicate his approval, I trust that the assurances given to the Congress by his representatives still hold.
I continue in my trust because I would like very much to see S. 622 become law. I think it makes sense.
Those of us from New England have a special interest in energy policy because of our region's heavy dependence on petroleum. We know firsthand the effects of skyrocketing oil prices and supply shortages. We know that we must have a rational energy policy and we must have it now.
This legislation makes sense for my home State of Maine, for New England, and for the Nation. It would stabilize prices by rolling them back a small amount immediately and allow them to rise slowly over the next 3½ years. It would guarantee conservation by setting strict standards. And it would give the President the authority he needs to deal with another severe shortage should one occur.
S. 622 represents an important step in moving the Nation toward a brighter energy future. I urge my colleagues to support it.