Tuesday, June 12, 2007

6:11 Amendment Passes By a vote of 63 to 30, the Senate passed amendment #1508. 6:11:47 PM

5:45 Roll Call Vote on Amendment #1508 The Senate is currently in a roll call vote on amendment #1508 to the Energy Bill.  This amendment would reduce the nation's dependence on oil and save 10 million barrels of oil a day by 2031. 6:00:34 PM

5:00 Senate Continues on Energy Bill Senator Durbin of Illinois said the time until 5:45 p.m. is reserved for debate on the DRIVE Act amendment # 1508, which was offered by Senators Bayh and Lieberman.  At 5:45 p.m., the Senate will proceed to a vote on this amendment. 5:18:59 PM

3:30 Senators Consider DRIVE Act provision Senator Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut proposed amendment number 1508, the DRIVE Act.  Senator Lieberman said this amendment would set a higher oil savings target than is currently in the Energy bill.  This provisions aims at reducing America’s consumption and dependence on oil by 35% by 2030.  Senator Pete Domenici of New mexico spoke against this provision because it directs the Executive branch to do all the research on how to reduce America’s oil dependence instead of the Senate providing legislative answers to reduce oil dependence.  4:56:18 PM

2:15 Senate Considers Energy Bill The Senate agreed by unanimous consent to the move to consideration of H.R. 6, the Energy Bill.  Senator Feinstein then discussed a provision that would increase fuel economy standards for cars, SUVs and light trucks to 35 miles per gallon by 2019.  Senator Feinstein said this increase in fuel efficiency could reduce the nation’s need for 2.1 million barrels of oil a day by 2025, which is almost the amount of oil that is imported from the Persian Gulf on a daily basis.  Senator Domenici agreed that these CAFÉ standards would benefit many Americans, as well as many other provisions in the bill, including an increase in production in biofuels and efficiency. 3:54:06 PM

12:15 Senators Continue to Speak on Energy Bill Senator Larry Craig spoke three concepts that are necessary for an energy portfolio; energy efficiency, biofuels, and hydrocarbons.  He said that the bill before the Senate is one that looks to the next 25 to 30 years, but the American people want to address gas prices tomorrow or next year.  He mentioned that drilling in the Outer Continental Shelf and national security should be a part of the Energy bill discussion, even though it has not been included in the language introduced by Senators Reid and Bingaman.  The senate is currently in recess until 2:15 p.m. for the weekly policy lunches. 1:26:12 PM

10:15 Senators Speak on Energy Bill Senator Bennett of Utah said that we cannot conserve our way into energy independence but that we must also increase our domestic production of energy, including allowing offshore drilling that would increase access to domestic oil sources.  Senator Bennett intends to offer an amendment that would open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to drilling.  Senator Lieberman of Connecticut said that such an amendment could have the potential to kill the entire Energy bill, which would negatively affect all Americans.  10:54:41 AM

10:00 Senate Convenes Last night, by a vote of 91 to 0, the Senate invoked cloture on the motion to proceed to H.R. 6, the CLEAN Energy Act of 2007.  The Senate will be in a period of morning business for 60 minutes with the time equally divided between the Majority and Minority.  Majority Leader Reid then said the Senate will move to consideration of the Energy Bill after the weekly policy lunches. 10:07:05 AM