Lucas Agrees to Energy Bill
LUCAS AGREES TO ENERGY BILL
July 26, 2005
Congressman Helps Send Final Version of Legislation to House and Senate
Washington, D.C.- U.S. Third District Congressman Frank Lucas has signed his approval of the comprehensive energy package, as a part of the group of House and Senate members who worked on the bill's final version.
"I'm delighted that this important legislation looks like it will finally be signed into law," Lucas said. "This energy bill will put into place the comprehensive energy policy President Bush has called for, providing incentives and improvements in every aspect of energy production, conservation, and consumption."
The bill offers a myriad of incentives and provisions to improve the U.S. energy position and reduce our dependence on foreign oil. It expands oil and gas production, and provides tax incentives for renewable energy. It also requires utilities to follow nationwide electric reliability rules, and provides incentives for energy efficiency and conservation measures.
"The high gas prices that consumers are facing are the result of long-term production and refining problems, and we need this legislation to provide long-term solutions," Lucas said.
Conferees are needed when there are differences between House and Senate versions of a bill. The conference committee works out the differences in the two bills to create an identical bill both bodies can pass and send to the President for his signature. The House passed its version of the energy bill in April by a vote of 249-183. The Senate passed its version in June.
Lucas signed the conference report today, giving his approval of the final version of the bill. A majority of the 66 House and Senate conferees voted for the conference report, thus sending the legislation to the House and Senate floors for final passage this week.
Lucas was a conferee on the sections of the bill under the jurisdiction of the House Agriculture Committee, of which he is a subcommittee chairman. Provisions of the bill under Lucas' jurisdiction dealt with issues such as biomass, oil and gas leasing, fuel commodity exchange trading, and geothermal leasing.
http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/ok03_lucas/energyconfsign05.html