U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today led the Senate’s approval of a motion to proceed to a formal conference with the House of Representatives on S. 2012, her broad, bipartisan energy legislation. 

“This vote is a critical milestone that will allow Congress to begin the first conference on major energy legislation in more than a decade,” Murkowski said. “While we have differences to resolve, I am confident we are up to the task. Our bicameral negotiations will begin immediately so that a good final bill can be signed into law this year.”

Murkowski, chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, worked with her colleagues to develop her wide-ranging bill, the Energy Policy Modernization Act. It includes provisions from 80 Senators and passed by a bipartisan vote of 85-12 on April 20. In May, the House approved its version of the energy bill, agreed by voice vote on a motion to go to conference, and appointed its conferees.

The Senate appointed a total of seven conferees today:

Republican Conferees

• Chairman Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska
• Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo.
• Sen. Jim Risch, R-Idaho
• Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas 

Democratic Conferees

• Ranking Member Maria Cantwell, D-Wash.
• Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore.
• Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. 

The Energy Policy Modernization Act includes a wide range of provisions that will benefit Alaska, ranging from renewable energy and mineral production to routing flexibility for the Alaska gasline and the reauthorization of programs that provide vital funding to the state. The bill will help Alaskans produce more energy and pay less for energy while ensuring our sportsmen have access to federal lands – all without raising taxes or adding to the deficit. 

A three-page fact sheet outlining the provisions that will boost Alaska is available online. More information about the Energy Policy Modernization Act is available on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee website.