Pete Domenici: “I think the Senate now knows that S. 14, a comprehensive energy policy, is before the Senate. Obviously, we are going to…”

“I think the Senate now knows that S. 14, a comprehensive energy policy, is before the Senate. Obviously, we are going to have to take some time in this calendar of ours to get it done. We always speak of a comprehensive energy bill and we tell the country we need one. We have one before us. There are many of us who think it is very good. We won't know how good the Senate thinks it is until we have had a chance to go through it and vote on it. I am very hopeful that those who have amendments will start thinking about coming down here to offer them. The pending amendment is a major one--the so-called ethanol amendment. That is the bill which establishes a national goal of 5 billion barrels by the year 2012. It is a very important contribution to America's independence and a component of the bill, if adopted, when adopted, that will create diversification. It will be moving toward independence rather than dependence. Obviously, it has fantastic side effects for rural America, agricultural America, which those who have been working on it for years have already spoken to, and many more will.”