Pete Domenici: “I have already indicated to the Senate that while this amendment was in the Energy bill last year, and while it was…”

“I have already indicated to the Senate that while this amendment was in the Energy bill last year, and while it was considered by the Energy Committee of the Senate and handled in a manner that I have described, it is not included in the bill but recommended for submission as an amendment, which has been done. It is clear the jurisdictional issue which has arisen did not come up last year, as I understand it, from the distinguished Senator from New Mexico who was chairman last year. It was not raised. So we proceeded as if the same were to occur this year. Such is not the case in that the chairman and the ranking member of the committee of jurisdiction desire to challenge the inclusion of that. They are aware of the fact that the amendment is going to be included today. The chairman of the appropriate committee, Senator Gregg, is not here today. He will be here tomorrow. Thus, we will not complete debate on this until he comes back tomorrow. But I am going to send to the desk, as they understand this is going to be the case, in behalf of Senator Gregg, an amendment to my amendment which strikes the section of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program substitute and extensive Senate language; that when the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions reauthorizes the LIHEAP Act of 1981, the committee should consider increasing the authorization of the program to $3.4 billion to better serve the needs of low-income and other eligible households.”