WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Frank H. Murkowski today called the end of the six-week energy debate that culminated with passage of the Senate Energy bill a victory for President George W. Bush and his domestic policy agenda. The bill passed the Senate by a vote of 88 to 11. “Nearly one year ago, the president called on Congress to pass energy legislation, and today is a great victory for the president and his domestic agenda. The president called for energy legislation that was balanced, comprehensive and forward thinking. A plan that works to solve more than just today’s problems, but also tomorrow’s. “The president’s policy initiative encourages the best of American ingenuity and technology to develop tomorrow’s energy sources. But it also recognizes that tomorrow’s solutions aren’t available today. It encourages the safe and clean development of traditional resources here at home like nuclear, clean coal and new domestic oil exploration to help reduce our dependence on foreign sources of energy. “Between the House and Senate, we have achieved a majority of the president’s agenda. We began this debate believing we had a flawed bill, created by a flawed process. We knew we needed to amend it to make it better. And we did. We accomplished this through a series of targeted bipartisan amendments. “Senate Republicans reigned in the authority of FERC, and maintained state’s rights. The Senate took irresponsible CAFÉ provisions that left our families and children at risk and turned them into a responsible plan letting scientists and engineers, not Congress, set levels to help reduce oil consumption. We ensured that future energy solutions would come from renewable sources, found here at home, benefitting our environment and the family farm. “While this bill is not close to being perfect, it is substantially different and better than the bill put on the floor by Senate Democrats nearly 4 months ago. We were given a broken bill, but we deliver to the House, a measure worth passing.” ###