Political Quotes

“I thank the Chair. I join Senator Bingaman in urging support of the Bingaman amendment. It is cleared, as he indicated, on our side. I remind my colleagues that energy affects America's families and businesses. We are seeing higher energy costs, lost jobs, and reduced prosperity. We know, as Senator Bingaman indicated, that the amendment cannot replace the need for a comprehensive energy policy. We have a crisis in this country. We are addressing the symptoms and not the causes. That is easier said than done. We are going to have to get into those causes. We certainly agree we need to provide additional funds for the weatherization assistance and the LIHEAP program. As you might know, Mr. President, these programs are in title VI of the Murkowski-Breaux National Energy Security Act of 2001. Let me explain briefly the difference because we are very close. As Senator Bingaman knows, we are going to be holding hearings on these matters beginning next week. We will hold a hearing each week. On LIHEAP, we have proposed an increased base from $2 billion to $3 billion and an increase in emergency funds from $600 million to $1 billion. The Bingaman amendment increases the base from $2 billion to $3.4 billion, so there is an increase. However, there are no emergency funds. In weatherization, Senator Bingaman's proposal and our proposal in title VI increases to $500 million by the year 2005.”