The Republican Majority has reached across the aisle to update our energy laws, which haven’t been reformed since 2007. With energy technology evolving rapidly, it’s more important than ever that the legislation keeps up. Senator Lisa Murkowski has introduced the bipartisan Energy Policy Modernization Act to update energy infrastructure and better utilize renewable energies and energy efficiency.
After Sen. Murkowski braved Winter Storm Jonas for a short session on the bill last Tuesday, it was brought up and discussed on the floor this week. Many amendments were offered, such as Senator Pat Toomey’s amendment to reduce the amount of corn ethanol, lessening the burden on Pennsylvania’s many fuel refiners.
Sen. Rob Portman is also offering up a bipartisan amendment to improve energy efficiency and help out Ohioans. Sen. Portman said of the amendment:
“It’s something I want to get done for my constituents. It’s the right thing for the country, it’s the right thing for Ohio manufacturers, it’s the right thing for all of us who will pay less in utility bills, it’s the right thing for making the environment cleaner,” Portman said, adding that he believes it will create 200,000 jobs.
Sen. Mark Kirk has put forth an amendment to stop Canadians from using Lake Huron as a nuclear waste site. Many Great Lakes states are in support of Mark Kirk’s amendment, which will protect our lakes and resources.
Last, Sen. Ron Johnson’s amendment will address judges’ decisions to put certain animals on the endangered list, siding with "Wisconsin’s farmers, ranchers, loggers, and sportsmen."
Sen. Murkowski said of the bill:
"It is a good bill, a timely bill, a bipartisan bill, and it deserves overwhelming support," she said.
The Christian Science Monitor noted of Murkowski’s ability to get the bill through the Senate, "This is how it looks when Congress gets along."
This bill is just another way the Majority is Working to get America back on track since the Harry Reid-Barack Obama agenda derailed America’s future. We need to hold our Majority in 2016 in order to continue making positive reforms we can all agree on.