David Thomas: “they have a saying in racing that to finish first, first you have to finish. It is a pleasure to stand up after several…”

“they have a saying in racing that to finish first, first you have to finish. It is a pleasure to stand up after several frustrating years and Congresses to be here supporting an energy bill. As we move from a society totally dependent upon fossil fuels to alternative energy, it is important to make sure that the infrastructure that will carry us through to alternate energy is functioning adequately, and I am pleased that that has been done in this bill. I am also pleased that, as principally led by Senator Domenici for a number of years, that we are beginning once again to look at an obvious source of energy that has been overlooked, nuclear energy. And I want to compliment the new chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee for his understanding that time is secondary to getting people to a level of agreement that allows us to present this bill on the floor today. Of course, no bill is perfect, but if you do not have a bill, you cannot stand up and criticize it as the gentleman just did in the well. I am very pleased with this work product in terms of its balance. We tried to create balance within the tax area. We are willing to spend money on an experimental basis on a number of alternative sources.…”