WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Frank H. Murkowski (R-AK), Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, released the following statement after Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD) said today “With regard to ANWR, what I’m simply suggesting is that the Senate work its will.” “Senator Daschle has blocked the will of the Senate every step of the way. First, he shuts down the Energy Committee and prevents it from meeting, in clear violation of Senate and Committee rules. Now he delays, yet again, the energy debate despite a bipartisan outcry for action. “If he truly wanted to let the Senate work its will, he’d call up energy today. Instead we’re debating railroad retirement. I don’t want to diminish the role of retired railroad workers, but we’ve got sailors and soldiers dying in the middle east. “In September, the very month this nation was attacked, we broke an 11 year old record by importing a stunning 1.2 million barrels of oil a day of Iraqi oil. We could be beyond the policies of dependence. We could be developing energy solutions here at home, if Senator Daschle truly let the Senate work its will.” ###