Energy Conference: Update #15 (Today's Meeting)

Note to reporters from the Committee's Press Secretary

September 25, 2002
12:00 AM
Today's Energy Conference meeting begins at 11:30 a.m. in 2123 Rayburn. It will be broadcast on Ch. 20 (Senate) and Ch. 6 (House). It also will be webcast, linked from energy.senate.gov or energycommerce.house.gov. The links become active 15 minutes before the opening gavel drops. It is anticipated that 1) the Senate will make an offer to the House on R&D provisions and 2) Senator Craig will move that the Senate make an offer to the House on hydroelectric provisions. There * may * be discussion on any or all of the remaining issues (electricity, ethanol, climate, ANWR, taxes, etc.), but nothing more than talk. Today's meeting is likely to end at about 12:45 p.m., so Conference principals can attend a meeting on the energy bill with President Bush at 1:15 p.m. at the White House. (It appears the White House remains interested in the energy bill, which all of us see as encouraging.) We're working this morning to try and arrange a media avail after that WH meeting, so those attending can offer a read-out on what was discussed. Please stay tuned ... Chairman Tauzin has said that he intends to reconvene the conference at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday in 2123 Rayburn. An agenda for tomorrow's meeting will be distributed when it's ready.