Cabinet members and unions call for energy bill, ANWR development

Steve Sutherlin

Secretary of Energy Spence Abraham and Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton met Oct. 2 with union officials to discuss a comprehensive energy policy for the United States, the Teamsters union said in a statement. Leaders of the Teamsters, the Maritime Trades union, and the Building Trades union attended.

“America has gone too long without a solid energy plan,” said Jerry Hood, Teamsters special assistant for energy policy. “When energy costs rise, working families are the first to feel the pinch. The Senate should follow the example passed by the House and ease their burden by sending the President supply-based energy legislation to sign.”

A national energy policy which includes ANWR exploration would mean hundreds of thousands of good-paying jobs for American workers, the union said. The technology exists to explore the ANWR safely and cleanly.

“We need the energy, we need the jobs, we need a comprehensive energy bill from the Senate,” Norton said. “This plan increases our energy independence and therefore our national security.”

Abraham agreed, noting that exploring ANWR enjoys growing support from labor unions and industry groups, as well as Republicans and Democrats. “We need an energy-security policy and we need it soon,” Abraham said. “ANWR gives us the chance to develop more energy at home.”

“Our country is already reeling from nearly 100,000 layoffs in the airline industry and more than 100,000 in other industries, with more layoffs expected,'' Hood said. “This legislation can put Americans back to work while lessening our dependence on foreign oil.”