WASHINGTON – Senator Frank H. Murkowski (R-AK), Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, today praised President Bush’s decision to place an additional 70 million barrels of oil in the nation’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR). “Our nation’s energy security must begin and end here at home. We’re only one terrorist attack on a tanker away from a serious and significant disruption of our energy supply out of the middle east. The Strategic Petroleum Reserve will help carry our economy through such an attack on our energy supply. “The President is potentially using the government’s royalty program, which I wholeheartedly support as an effective tool in keeping our reserves fully stocked. Using royalty oil to fill the reserve was part of the bi-partisan energy bill I introduced earlier this year. “When filled, the larger Strategic Petroleum Reserve will provide 70 days of energy security for America. But we can do better. What we really need is a long-term solution to reduce America’s dangerous dependence on foreign sources of oil. “Almost two thirds of every barrel of oil used in this country comes from overseas. Despite conservation efforts and promising new alternative energy sources, we are still dependent on oil to power our planes, our fire trucks, and our buses – not to mention the bombers, fighters, and ships that are fighting the war on terrorism. “The President keeps calling for the Senate to vote on a comprehensive energy bill but the majority still won’t schedule the issue. The House has done its job. We cannot afford to let the Senate adjourn without doing theirs.” ###