Washington, D.C. – Senate Energy & Natural Resources Chairman Pete V. Domenici congratulated Energy & Commerce Chairman Joe Barton for his leadership in steering his energy bill to bipartisan victory on the House floor. The House voted 249-183 for the Energy Policy Act of 2005. On the Senate side, committee staff tomorrow finish a week of meetings with legislative assistants for committee Republicans and Democrats to review draft bill language agreed-upon by committee staff of both parties. Chairman Domenici met with committee Republicans Wednesday to discuss the short list of unresolved issues and will meet with them again next week. He also continues meeting with Ranking Member Bingaman and other committee Democrats.

Chairman Domenici’s statement: “I congratulate Joe Barton for shepherding his energy bill through the House on such a strong bipartisan vote. More than 40 Democrats crossed the aisle to support his bill. I continue to work for similar bipartisan victory in the Senate. I look forward to working with Chairman Barton in conference to meet the President’s call for an energy bill on his desk by August.”