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Energy Bill Conference Pending

6/4/2002

LCG, June 4, 2002--Although the Senate nominated its 17 conference members to discuss an energy bill with counterparts in the House a month ago, the House has yet to name its conferees.

The energy bill that has been slowly making its way through the U.S. Congress has some remaining aspects to be clarified before it becomes law. The House energy bill was passed in August last year, and the Senate energy bill passed this April.

Language regarding the Alaskan Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is one source of contention holding the bill up. The U.S. House of Representatives may make a decision this week on its conference members, to number as many as 50.

The Senate Democrat conferees are Energy Committee Chairman Jeff Bingaman (NM), Joseph Lieberman (CT), John Kerry (MA), Ernest Hollings (SC), Max Baucus (MT), John Rockefeller (WV), John Breaux (LA), and Harry Reid (NV).

Republic conferees are Frank Murkowski (AK), Pete Domenici (NM), Charles Grassley (IA), Don Nickles (OK), Trent Lott (MS), Larry Craig (IA), Ben Nighthorse Campbell (CO), and Craig Thomas (WY).

Vermont Independent James Jeffords was also named as a member.