WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Lisa
Murkowski, R-Alaska, today expressed optimism that the members of the Senate
Energy and Natural Resources Committee could find common ground on policies
that both increase oil supply and reduce oil demand. Murkowski’s comments
came during a full committee hearing on two bills that seek to reduce domestic
fuel consumption: S. 734, the Advanced Vehicle Technology Act, and S. 948, the
Promoting Electric Vehicles Act.
“Earlier this week we considered several
bills designed to increase domestic energy production. Now we’re looking
at the other side of the equation, with a few of the bills that seek to reduce
demand,” Murkowski said. “Both supply and demand matter, and the policies
we consider in this committee should reflect that fact.”
Murkowski, the panel’s ranking member,
also stressed the need to ensure that new policies don’t add to the federal
debt – especially after the federal government hit its debt ceiling of $14.3
trillion earlier this week.
“Given the huge amount of work it will
take to balance the federal budget, we need to be careful, as authorizers, to
make sure everything we pass is extremely well-justified,” Murkowski said. “One
of the best ways to ensure that our work keeps moving through the legislative
process is to make sure that it’s fully paid for – whether by repealing old
authorizations or applying some of the revenues from new energy
production.”
During a round of questions with the
hearing’s witnesses, Murkowski asked questions about cost, design, and scope of
each policy.
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