Last week, I sent to the Congress a comprehensive special message setting forth our energy situation, recommending the legislative measures which are necessary to a program for meeting our needs.  If the embargo is lifted, this will ease the crisis, but it will not mean an end to the energy shortage in America.  Voluntary conservation will continue to be necessary.  And let me take this occasion to pay tribute once again to the splendid spirit of cooperation the American people have shown which has made possible our success in meeting this emergency up to this time.

The new legislation I have requested will also remain necessary.  Therefore, I urge again that the energy measures that I have proposed be made the first priority of this session of the Congress.  These measures will require the oil companies and other energy producers to provide the public with the necessary information on their supplies.  They will prevent the injustice of windfall profits for a few as a result of the sacrifices of the millions of Americans.  And they will give us the organization, the incentives, the authorities needed to deal with the short-term emergency and to move toward meeting our long-term needs.

Just as 1970 was the year in which we began a full-scale effort to protect the environment, 1974 must be the year in which we organize a full-scale effort to provide for our energy needs, not only in this decade but through the 21st century.

As we move toward the celebration 2 years from now of the 200th anniversary of this Nation’s independence, let us press vigorously on toward the goal I announced last November for Project Independence.  Let this be our national goal:  At the end of this decade, in the year 1980, the United States will not be dependent on any other country for the energy we need to provide our jobs, to heat our homes, and to keep our transportation moving.

To indicate the size of the Government commitment, to spur energy research and development, we plan to spend $10 billion in Federal funds over the next 5 years.  That is an enormous amount.  But during the same 5 years, private enterprise will be investing as much as $200 billion—­and in 10 years, $500 billion—­to develop the new resources, the new technology, the new capacity America will require for its energy needs in the 1980’s.  That is just a measure of the magnitude of the project we are undertaking.

But America performs best when called to its biggest tasks.  It can truly be said that only in America could a task so tremendous be achieved so quickly, and achieved not by regimentation, but through the effort and ingenuity of a free people, working in a free system.

Turning now to the rest of the agenda for 1974, the time is at hand this year to bring comprehensive, high quality health care within the reach of every American.  I shall propose a sweeping new program that will assure comprehensive health insurance protection to millions of Americans who cannot now obtain it or afford it, with vastly improved protection against catastrophic illnesses.  This will be a plan that maintains the high standards of quality in America’s health care.  And it will not require additional taxes.