Royalty Collectors Misconduct
Investigators today released a report detailing a number of questionable activities, including unethical and potentially criminal conduct, by Federal employees responsible for collecting royalties from companies that produce oil and gas from public lands. The three-part Inspector General’s report is part of ongoing inquiries into problems with the way the Department of the Interior manages […]
This Week (Sept. 8-12)
On Thursday, Sept. 11, the full committee will hold a business meeting (markup) to consider pending legislation. (Dirksen 366 at 12:00 noon) On Friday, Sept. 12, the Committee will host a Senate-wide summit to consider how to achieve a more secure, reliable, sustainable and affordable energy future for the American people. This event will be […]
Details on Energy Summit
On Friday, Sept. 12, the Senate Energy Committee will host an all-day summit to facilitate the development of comprehensive legislation to address America’s many energy challenges. The Senate-wide meeting, from 9:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m., will feature two panels of witnesses that include energy analysts, academics and corporate leaders, all of whom will offer recommendations […]
Stop Talking, Vote on Energy Plan
The following guest column appeared in the Albuquerque Journal on August 25th, 2008: “We can’t drill our way out of this problem.” It’s a refrain that I hear constantly from my friends on the other side of the aisle during the ongoing Senate debate over what to do about the most […]
Bingaman To Steer Energy Summit in September
Senate Energy Committee Chairman Jeff Bingaman has agreed to help lead an energy summit next month when the Senate returns to session. The Senate has been blocked from considering energy legislation for most of the summer. In an effort to find areas of agreement between both parties, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid last week […]
Domenici: Democratic Leaders Fail the American People By Leaving Town Before Addressing Gas Prices
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Pete Domenici, ranking member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, today issued the following statement regarding the Senate’s inaction on gas prices: “After nine days of debate and seven different attempts to change the subject, the Democratic Majority in the Senate finally has come […]
Bingaman Greets President’s Proposal To Accelerate Leasing
Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne today directed the Minerals Management Service to begin planning a new 5-year offshore oil and gas program that could result in the acceleration of leasing in the Central and Western Gulf of Mexico, and in the study of areas already available for leasing but not included in the current […]
Domenici Critiques Democrats’ “Production” Amendment
On the Senate floor this afternoon, Senator Domenici offered a critique of Democrats’ “production” amendment to the underlying speculation bill. Among Domenici’s chief concerns are: – provisions that create new bureaucratic requirements for “diligent development” (thereby delaying development) – increases in fees to produce onshore – tapping the Strategic Petroleum […]
Green Mortgages Find Home in Housing Bill
A provision to improve and promote energy efficient mortgages is included in the Housing aid legislation that the Senate passed on Saturday. The bipartisan proposal was put forward by Sens. Jeff Bingaman and Pete Domenici, chair and ranking member of the Senate Energy Committee. Energy efficient mortgages could play an important role in a […]
Domenici Statement On Vote To End Debate On Speculation-Only Bill
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Pete Domenici, ranking member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, issued the following statement regarding today’s procedural vote that prevented Democrats from ending debate on a bill that addresses only the issue of speculation in oil markets, without any production: “Today, Republicans stood up for the American […]