Angie Craig: “let me speak to the underlying bill and the provision in the amendment that is before us now before yielding the floor.…”

“let me speak to the underlying bill and the provision in the amendment that is before us now before yielding the floor. The senior Senator from Florida is here to discuss the issue of offshore drilling and a very important part of our overall energy considerations. First and foremost, the chairman has called our colleagues forward to the floor on ethanol amendments. That is the provision that is on the floor now. I thank the junior Senator from South Dakota for his thoughts and laying out a comprehensive explanation as to the importance of renewable fuels to our country as we strive toward a greater sense of self-reliance. Self-reliance is security. Self- reliance is national security. The ability to determine for ourselves our own energy destiny is critically important, whether it is today or tomorrow or for our children's future. To know that there is going to be an abundance of energy of all types, both for transportation purposes, electrical generating purposes--all of that is critical. Finally, that is why we are here on the floor of the Senate with this critical legislation.…”