mr. chairman , coal is by far the largest domestic source of energy we produce . 
here in the united states , we have between 250 and 300 years of a coal supply . 
that is more than the amount of recoverable oil contained in the entire world . 
i am proud to represent the anthracite coal fields of pennsylvania , which have the largest anthracite coal deposit in north america , arguably the largest deposit in the world . 
it is a high-btu , low-sulfur fuel , and is considered the cleanest-burning solid fuel on the commercial market today . 
but as we can see through rising fuel prices , we are too dependent upon foreign oil . 
in the united states , we consume about 20.5 million barrels of oil per day . 
that 's about 7.5 billion barrels per year . 
half of that is imported . 
and almost half of american oil consumption is for motor vehicles . 
one of our priorities should be to reduce our dependence on foreign oil . 
we should be increasing research and development into our fossil fuel program . 
with continued research of coal , the potential of the united states becoming energy self-sufficient in an environmentally friendly manner is enhanced . 
for over 15 years , through the clean coal programs of the department of energy , the federal government has been a solid partner , working jointly with private companies and the states to develop and demonstrate a new generation of environmentally clean technology using coal . 
one benefit of the clean coal programs takes advantage of a decades ' old technology of converting coal and waste coal into clean diesel fuel . 
in pennsylvania alone , there is an excess of 200-300 million tons of waste coal that has accumulated over the years . 
a company in gilberton , pennsylvania , in my district , is ready to do convert this waste coal to diesel fuel and electricity on a large scale . 
the plant has received support from doe 's clean coal power initiative . 
coal research and development provides huge benefits for the nation , and pay for itself many times over through taxes flowing back to the treasury from expanded economic activity . 
the clean coal programs are important for several reasons . 
they : clean up the environment by burning waste coal ; reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides and air toxics ; develop cleaner , more efficient power systems ; sponsor promising technologies that are too risky for private industry to undertake alone ; provide a model for future government-industry technology partnerships ; and provide tremendous job opportunities in this country , not in the middle east . 
in 2002 , president bush said , `` we will promote clean coal technology. '' the president recently outlined four important objectives that need to be included in this energy bill . 
these objectives are all met by clean coal programs : encourage the use of technology to improve conservation ; encourage more production at home in environmentally sensitive ways ; diversify our energy supply by developing alternative sources of energy and create more energy choices ; and help us find better , more reliable ways to deliver energy to consumers . 
we need to take advantage of our own natural resources . 
i encourage my colleagues to continue to support clean coal programs . 
