House Concurrent Resolution 73

(As Adopted by House and Senate)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO ESTABLISH A DOMESTIC ENERGY POLICY TO ENSURE AN ADEQUATE SUPPLY AND APPROPRIATE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR NATURAL GAS, PROMOTE GREATER ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND OPEN PROMISING NEW AREAS FOR ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE NATURAL GAS PRODUCTION.

WHEREAS, because of the current state of our nation, we are reminded daily that America is now at the mercy of foreign oil producing nations; and

WHEREAS, America's dependence on foreign oil directly threatens our national security and our freedom; and

WHEREAS, the development of a domestic energy policy by Congressional legislation enacting a National Energy Security Act would reduce the United States' dependence on foreign countries for more than fifty-six percent (56%) of our nation's energy needs; and

WHEREAS, we should seek to reduce America's dependency on foreign oil up to fifty percent (50%) by 2010, down from the current fifty-six percent (56%), and much lower than the predicted sixty-five percent (65%) dependency expected by 2020; and

WHEREAS, in seeking out measures to enhance the usage of renewable energy resources including hydro, nuclear, coal, solar and wind power, Congress should also seek to increase domestic supplies of nonrenewable resources, like oil and natural gas; and

WHEREAS, without a national energy policy, millions of Americans will continue to endure mandated power outages due to the lack of a power infrastructure or find themselves faced with larger power bills due to increased demand and limited production of energy; and

WHEREAS, since natural gas is domestically produced and increased natural gas imports are longer term, the United States must tap into the vast resources we have so as to decrease the nation's level of dependency on foreign energy and fueling resources; and

WHEREAS, the State of Mississippi supports a sound, rational, domestic energy policy:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby urge the United States Congress to enact legislation in the 109th Congress establishing a domestic energy policy that will ensure an adequate supply of energy and the appropriate infrastructure, acknowledging that such energy policy should develop a concerted national effort to promote greater energy efficiency and open promising new areas for environmentally responsible energy production.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to President George W. Bush, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, each member of the Mississippi Congressional Delegation and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.