Lisa Murkowski: “As the Senate knows, symbolism is so significant. If we were to make a decision to allow the opening of this particular…”

“As the Senate knows, symbolism is so significant. If we were to make a decision to allow the opening of this particular area, we would send a signal to OPEC that we mean business, that we are serious about reducing our dependence. We are not going to replace dependence, but we can reduce it dramatically by a conscientious effort to keep these jobs at home, and, as we both know, the economic forecast suggests there could be significant growing concern over loss of jobs and this is the most significant single identifiable project to create jobs that anybody has been able to pinpoint that does not cost the Government any money or the taxpayer.”