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Bush seeks speedy passage of energy legislation
Wednesday, August 20, 2003

President Bush and Republican leaders in Congress plan to push through energy legislation to respond to last week's major power blackout.

Before the August recess, the Senate resurrected its 2002 energy bill, which includes provisions to speed up energy development on Indian lands by limiting the Department of Interior's involvement. Some tribes, notably the Navajo Nation, oppose this language, saying it will weaken the trust responsibility.

A joint House-Senate committee has to work out differences between the different versions of the bill. The House has approved drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge while the Senate has not.

Rep. Billy Tauzin (R-La.) said he wants to have a final package by the end of September.

Get the Story:
Bush Wants Reliability Rules in Energy Bill (The Washington Post 8/20)
Humbled by Blackout, Congress Girds for Beyond-the-Beltway Energy Fight (The New York Times 8/20)
Ambitious Bush Plan Undone by Energy Politics (The New York Times 8/20)

Get the 2002 Bill Text:
H.R.6

Relevant Links:
Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee - http://energy.senate.gov
National Congress of American Indians - http://www.ncai.org
Navajo Nation - http://www.navajo.org
Council of Energy Resource Tribes - http://www.certredearth.com

Related Stories:
Navajo president still concerned about energy bill (08/06)
Senate scraps energy bill for 2002 measure (8/1)
Indian energy title being reworked in Senate (7/31)
Indian energy title up for debate in Senate (7/28)
Editorial: Senate should vote down Indian energy (7/25)
Campbell: The 'truth' about Indian energy bill (7/25)
Navajo Nation's Shirley slams energy bill (7/22)
Report: Campbell aide shuts down energy bill debate (07/08)
Senate takes up Indian energy title (6/12)
Navajo Nation opposes energy bill (6/6)
Indian energy title adopted without changes (04/30)
Tribes weigh effects of energy legislation on trust (03/20)
Navajo Nation tussles with new trust 'philosophy' (03/20)
Interior opposes oversight in energy bill (03/20)
High court ruling makes 'passive' trustee of U.S. (3/5)

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