Vote Scheduled on Amendment Containing Cantwell’s Yakima River Basin Bill, S. 1694 

Watch the debate live here. 

Washington, D.C. – Today, Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) will lead Democratic debate on a bipartisan energy bill in the U.S. Senate. Final passage of S. 2012, the Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2015, would mark the first time since 2007 that the Senate has passed a comprehensive energy bill.

In addition to modernizing the energy grid, creating jobs, and investing in smart building and clean energy technologies, the bill permanently reauthorizes the Land and Water Conservation Fund, one of the nation’s most effective conservation programs, originally created by U.S. Senator Scoop Jackson of Washington.

Additionally, the bill supports drought relief in the Yakima River Basin to enhance long-term sustainability by supporting resilience of the communities, economies and environment in the surrounding areas. Like much of the West, the basin has faced unprecedented drought, which caused millions of dollars in crop losses and related impacts in 2015.

Starting today, the Senate will vote on a group of amendments en bloc, followed by votes on eight amendments and then two votes for final passage of the bipartisan Energy Modernization Act of 2015. The legislation will then be one step closer to becoming a law.

Ranking Member Cantwell has worked closely with Chairman Murkowski on this legislation, which was formally introduced in July 2015. This bill received a bipartisan vote of 18-4 out of committee, and floor debate began in January 2016.

WHO:

Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.)

Ranking Member, Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

@EnergyDems, @SenatorCantwell 

WHEN:

Starting today at 2:15PM EST/11:15AM PST

WHAT:

Sen. Cantwell leads debate and votes on national energy policy

WHERE:

www.senate.gov/floor

SHARE:

Join the conversation on Twitter using @EnergyDems, #SenateEnergyBill