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Senator Lisa Murkowski Congratulates Budget Panel for Taking First Step Toward Responsible Energy Policy

Date: March 10, 2005
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Energy Natural Resources


SENATOR LISA MURKOWSKI CONGRATULATES BUDGET PANEL FOR TAKING FIRST STEP TOWARD RESPONSIBLE ENERGY POLICY

Panel's support for revenues is first step towards opening ANWR

Senator Lisa Murkowski today welcomed the action of the Senate Budget Committee that voted this afternoon to support potential oil and gas development from the Arctic coastal plain. The committee is expected to approve the budget resolution later today. The budget should be considered on the Senate Floor early next week.

The committee, on a 12-10 vote, voted to include language in the Senate Budget Resolution instructing the Senate Energy Committee to raise $2.5 billion in revenue from ANWR - language that could result in the opening of the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas development later this spring.

"It was a courageous and principled vote," Murkowski said. "I commend the committee for its inclusion of ANWR revenue in the budget resolution. Today's vote is not only a victory for the State of Alaska it is a victory for the entire country. I look forward to a similar vote on ANWR on the Senate Floor next week.

"Today, as Americans are paying over $2 a gallon for gasoline and our country is importing its oil from oversees at record levels, the Congress is one step closer to opening ANWR and taking a significant step towards increased energy affordability and increased energy security."

http://murkowski.senate.gov/pressapp/record.cfm?id=233363

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