Thursday, June 14, 2007

5:35 Roll Call Vote The Senate is voting on the Warner Amendment to the Energy Bill to allow natural gas exploration off the coast of Virginia. 5:38:52 PM

4:30 Senators Continue to Discuss Amendments to the Energy Bill Senator Kohl came to the floor to offer an amendment to the Energy Bill that would authorize the government to take action against the OPEC oil cartel.  This amendment would allow the U.S. to hold OPEC member nations accountable under U.S. antitrust law and is cosponsored by Senators Specter, Leahy, Grassley, Biden, Snowe, Feingold, Coburn, Schumer, Durbin, Boxer, Lieberman and Sanders.  Senators Salazar and Brownback then came to the floor to speak in favor of amendment # 1572 to the Energy Bill.  This amendment would support the development and manufacture of electric vehicles.  They stated that this amendment would help reduce demand for gasoline, as well as protecting the environment.  Senator DeMint then discussed his amendment, which would make it harder for any measures in this bill to raise the price of gas.  Senator Cardin spoke against Senator Warner’s amendment to authorize offshore gas exploration. 4:51:13 PM

2:00 Senators Discuss Amendments to Energy Bill Senator Thune discussed his amendment to the Energy Bill that would extend the current tariff on imported ethanol by two additional years.  He stated that the U.S. ethanol industry is still in its infancy, and that we need to be doing all that we can do to invest in and encourage its growth, not the growth of foreign ethanol companies.  Senator Warner of Virginia then came to the floor to discuss his amendment that would allow offshore exploration for natural gas in the Atlantic coastline off Virginia.  His amendment would require approval of the state government and input from surrounding states.  He stated that with the increase in fuel prices it is time that America turn to its own energy resources.  Senator Menendez then spoke against Senator Warner’s amendment, expressing concern that his state of New Jersey might be put in the position of mitigating environmental damage caused by the drilling.  He argued that instead of supporting old, inefficient energy sources we should be encouraging renewable and sustainable energy sources. 2:29:27 PM

12:20 Domenici's Amendment Tabled By a vote of 56-39, the motion to table to Domenici amendment was agreed to. 12:24:05 PM

12:00 Senate Voting to Table Domenici Amendment Senator Bingaman asked for unanimous consent to vote on both his and Senator Domenici's amendment that relate to requiring utilities to produce a larger amount of their energy from renewable sources.  There was an objection, and so now the Senate is voting to table Senator Domenici's amendment. 12:12:05 PM

11:50 Senator McConnell Speaks on Burma Sanctions Bill Senator McConnell used his leadership time to talk about a bill he is reintroducing this Congress with Senator Feinstein that extends for another year a ban on imports from Burma.  Senator McConnell said that the US will continue to shine a light on the oppressive and illegitimate military regime that has driven 12 dozen families from their homes.  He said that support is building for this movement from Washington, from the UN Security Council, and from other countries.  Senator McConnell said that the purpose of sanctions such as these are to change behavior and the changes sought in this case are irreversible stops toward reconciliation and democratization that include the full, unfettered participation of the National League for Democracy and Ethnic Minorities, ending attacks on ethnic minorities, and the immediate, unconditional release of all prisoners of conscious. 11:53:42 AM

11:00 Senate Continues Energy Bill Debate The Senate convened at 9:30 this morning and resumed consideration of the energy bill.  Two amendments were pending to the bill this morning: Senator Bingaman’s amendment regarding renewables and Senator Domenici’s second-degree amendment on the same issue.  Senator Reid said that he is confident that these two Senators, the two managers of the bill, would be able to work this out and the only other issue that remains deals with the efficiency of automobiles and he expects an amendment by Senator Levin on this issue. 11:08:39 AM