Washington, D.C. – Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Pete V. Domenici tonight praised the agenda outlined by President Bush in his State of the Union address and announced plans to move a substantive energy bill through committee this spring reflecting the President’s agenda. Chairman Domenici’s statement: “For nearly 30 years, as a member of the Senate Budget Committee and as its chairman, I focused on our national economy. President Bush tonight made it clear that a reliable and affordable energy supply is critical to a robust national economy. I emphatically agree. As chairman of the Energy Committee, I am committed to move a substantive energy bill through committee early this year. "America has become dangerously dependent on foreign oil. The President understands energy and, to his credit, has challenged us to harness our American ingenuity and scientific prowess to develop hydrogen-fueled vehicles as a means of decreasing our thirst for foreign oil. I agree that we should employ America's genius in science and engineering to tackle this problem. I would hope we could push the known limits of American science and engineering frontiers even further through additional provisions of our energy bill. "I look forward to an aggressive schedule of committee hearings and meetings this spring to craft an energy bill as broad and diverse as America itself. "I applaud the vision for America that President Bush outlined in his State of the Union address tonight. As chairman of the Senate Energy Committee, I am committed to doing my part to make that vision a reality." ###