Mr. Chairman, thank you for promptly scheduling this hearing to confirm our Secretary of Energy. The sooner we confirm Senator Abraham as the Secretary of Energy, the sooner he can begin work on his new and challenging assignment.
I am pleased that President-elect Bush has chosen Spencer Abraham to be the Secretary of Energy. He is aware of the concerns of Americans regarding rising energy costs. As a Senator from Michigan, Spencer Abraham has had firsthand experience with the increases in gasoline prices that occurred last year. I want to tell you that I plan to vote for your confirmation as the Secretary of Energy. I also commend you for accepting the task of running the Department of Energy. It is one of the most challenging jobs in the Federal government.
As a member of this Committee and as a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, I look forward to working with you on all aspects of the operations of the Department.
Senator Abraham, as you know our nation has suffered the impact of high energy prices for the last two years. Some areas of the country have suffered more than others. But Hawaii has borne the brunt of having to pay high energy prices during all of the 1990s. For most of the 1990s, the average Honolulu gasoline price, based on a weekly survey, hovered at roughly 25 cents to 50 cents above the national average.
One of the major challenges facing our nation is to stabilize energy prices and ensure that Americans enjoy reasonable and affordable energy prices. We have not had a coherent and comprehensive energy policy for a long time under both Democratic and Republican administrations. Additionally, we have not had a commitment to address our dependence on foreign sources of oil. The absence of an effective policy and a visible commitment to addressing our energy dependence have made us captive to OPEC's production decisions and led to other problems.
The only way to reverse our energy problem is to have a multifaceted energy strategy and remain committed to that strategy. This will send a clear message to OPEC and their partners about America's resolve. If we are to have a comprehensive energy policy that strengthens our economy and serves the real needs of Americans, then we need to dismantle our dependence on foreign oil as soon as possible.
The way to improve our energy outlook is to adopt energy conservation, encourage energy efficiency, and support renewable and alternative energy programs. Above all, we must develop energy resources that diversify our energy mix and strengthen our energy security. This is only one aspect of the problems faced by the Department. It faces other problems as well. The problems facing the Department are varied, complicated, and challenging. The Department has a large and diverse bureaucracy. The process of reinventing and reorganizing the Department is far from over. Electric utility industry restructuring poses its own challenges. Nuclear waste is a monumental problem. The weapons program has its own challenges. Environmental management at the Department's facilities is a complicated and an expensive undertaking.
The Department's science and technology programs need direction in the post Cold War era. The Department has facilities in 35 states, requiring it to work very closely with state and local agencies. The responsibilities of the Department extend even to remote islands in the far reaches of the Pacific Ocean. Our national security and economic health depend to great extent on what the Department does. In a nutshell, a series of problems await our new Secretary.
To address these and other issues, a strong hand is needed at the helm. The Department needs an effective leader who can promote policy and build a consensus. The President's nominee to be the Secretary of Energy is such a man. Senator Abraham's record and his experience have prepared him well for this challenge. I have every confidence that he will provide leadership in developing and implementing a comprehensive energy policy. I am also confident that he will address other problems faced by the Department in a cooperative and bipartisan manner.
Senator Abraham, I look forward to working with you.
