Nick Rahall: “I rise to call to the attention of the body a very intriguing position in the ANWR title. Tucked away on page 487 is a…”

“I rise to call to the attention of the body a very intriguing position in the ANWR title. Tucked away on page 487 is a section that mandates project labor agreements in ANWR oil and gas leases. What that means is that union labor would be employed to do the construction and other work in the Arctic Refuge. If we were to open the refuge, fine. I think that is a great idea. Since it is good for Alaska, I say to my colleagues, then let us also benefit the men and women working for oil and gas companies who stand to profit from royalty-free leases in the Gulf of Mexico as well. Now that the Bush administration is squarely behind the ANWR provision in this bill, perhaps the President realizes that he made a big mistake in February when he issued an executive order rescinding Clinton administration initiatives on PLAs. And maybe corporate America has reconsidered and concluded that project labor agreements are good ideas after all. Perhaps that is why the Reliance for Energy and Economic Growth has endorsed this bill, along with myriad other manufacturing groups. Mr. Chairman, I am glad, and I know that the National United Mine Workers union will appreciate that the National Mining Association now supports project labor.”