Stevens urges Senate to pass energy bill

Senator cites instability in producing nations and treaty obligations as reason to fast-track energy bill in Senate

Steve Sutherlin

PNA Managing Editor

Political instability in oil producing countries and the United States’ treaty obligations to provide for the energy needs of Israel in times of shortage are grounds to move quickly on an energy bill, Sen. Ted Stevens said in a speech on the Senate floor Nov. 9. Stevens said he hoped the bill would be brought up as an amendment to the economic stimulus package, which moved out of the Senate Finance Committee on Nov. 8. The House-passed version of the energy bill contains a provision to allow for oil development on 2,000 acres of the 1.5 million acre ANWR coastal plain.

“At $20 per barrel, Americans will send over $5 billion to Iraq by Christmas,” Stevens said. “We must begin to explore for oil in our own country, and we know where the largest potential supply of oil is. It is on the coastal plain of Alaska.”

ANWR oil could replace the quantity of oil the United States buys from Iraq, Saudi Arabia or Venezuela, Stevens said, adding that instability in Venezuela has led President Bush to recall the U.S. ambassador to that country for consultations. The recall was the result of statements in support of Afghanistan made by Venezuelan President Chavez.

President Bush called Nov. 8 for Congress to send an energy bill to his desk, to reduce dependence on foreign oil.

Stevens said there is national support for the president’s policy, “Yet today we still do not have a commitment from the leadership to bring up and complete action on this bill.

“If we act now, our men and women serving overseas will know that we stand behind them. Passing this bill before we go home for the Thanksgiving holiday will tell families from New England to Minnesota that the oil they burn in the future is American oil, not oil from Saddam Hussein or any of these unstable sources.”