Senate kicks off debate on broad, bipartisanrnenergy package, eyes long list of amendments

摘要

The Senate last week began debate on a broad energy bill, with backersrntouting the bipartisan nature of the bill even as a long list of potentialrnamendments posed challenges for keeping that support entact.rnSenate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Republican-Kentucky,rnsaid he was hopeful the Senate could complete its work on the billrnsometime this week.rnThe measure is eagerly anticipated by LNG developers because ofrnits provisions to speed DOE export license reviews, and is championedrnby its main sponsors as sorely needed to update energy policies thatrnhave not been revamped since 2007.rnSenate Energy and Natural Resources Chairman Lisa Murkowski,rnRepublican-Alaska, a lead sponsor, stressed the “collaborative, openrncommittee process” that led to a bill focused on areas of commonrnground and that ultimately cleared her panel by an 18-4 vote. Therncommittee’s ranking member, Maria Cantwell, also praised thernbipartisan effort and called the legislation “an important journey tornupdate our antiquated energy policies.”