Jeff Bingaman: “I join the chairman in his reluctance to prejudge amendments that we have not yet seen here in the Senate. We are trying…”

“I join the chairman in his reluctance to prejudge amendments that we have not yet seen here in the Senate. We are trying very hard on this bill to consider and work out issues on their merits, which is how I think energy legislation should be considered in the Senate. I can assure my colleagues, Senator Nelson and Senator Martinez, that in order to move forward expeditiously with this legislation, I will likewise not support an amendment that alters current OCS moratoria with respect to submerged lands off of Florida's coast or that affects lands in Lease Sale 181, and that I will work very closely with them on any amendment that they believe affects Florida's interests with respect to the Outer Continental Shelf. Senator Nelson has been a strong leader and advocate for preventing oil and gas development off of Florida's coasts. He is a passionate defender of the pristine beaches, estuaries, and native mangrove ecosystems of Florida. I am keenly aware that he and his colleague, Senator Martinez, have considerable rights under the Senate rules to impede the progress of this bill if amendments threatening these important Florida resources were in fact offered. But, I think it is unlikely that any Senator will offer an amendment to lift OCS moratoria off of Florida, or open areas otherwise unavailable for leasing, during our consideration of this bill.…”