Political Quotes

“The underlying amendment was introduced by Senator Stevens, myself, and Senator Breaux and, as a consequence, I think deserves some explanation relative to the specifics that are in the underlying amendment. The items for consideration, some of which were in H.R. 4, include specifically a 2,000-acre limitation on surface disturbance. Specifically, an export ban of any oil from the refuge cannot under any circumstances be exported, with the provision of authority for exports to Israel. Further, we would extend the U.S./Israeli oil supply arrangement, which is due to expire in the year 2004, to the year 2014. We would further have a wilderness increase designation, adding a million and a half acres of wilderness from the current refuge management in the southern portion of the refuge. Finally, there would be a Presidential finding--and this Presidential finding is quite specific that the refuge would not be open until the President makes a finding it is in the national security interest of this Nation. There would also be a triggering mechanism such as energy supply, threat to strategic reserves not sufficient to cover. I encourage my colleagues to reflect a little bit on how the underlying amendment was constructed. A great deal of time went into this effort by Members of both parties.”