Joe Lieberman: “the Senate has begun a very important debate in the last few days on our national energy policy. This is a debate that…”

“the Senate has begun a very important debate in the last few days on our national energy policy. This is a debate that will literally affect the lives and the quality of the lives of every single American, as well as affect our national security, our independence in carrying out our foreign and defense policies, and the quality of the environment and the natural resources from which we derive such pleasure as Americans. So this is a very important and timely debate. It has been 10 years since we last passed major energy legislation. We are starting with a bill hundreds of pages long, and hundreds--or at least 100--amendments may find their way onto it. We are going to be debating some very big opportunities and some very big problems, as well as many other smaller issues associated with the bill. I saw Senator Bingaman on the floor. I congratulate him and Senator Daschle for their superb leadership, along with that of the occupant of the chair, in developing the energy legislation that we are debating.”