[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 62 (Tuesday, April 29, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E793]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          PERSONAL EXPLANATION

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                          HON. EARL BLUMENAUER

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 29, 2003

  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, on Friday, April 11, 2003, I was absent 
due to participation in a previously scheduled conference.
  On rollcall votes numbered 142, 143, and 144, I would have voted 
``yea.''
  I would have voted to support an amendment by Representative Kind to 
strike Title II of the Energy Bill (#142). Title II would not only 
increase oil and gas drilling on sensitive public lands without 
ensuring environmental protections, but it would also provide royalty 
relief to these industries. The American public and Federal Treasury 
need these royalty payments in order to fully fund the Conservation 
Trust Fund, which pays for many of our nation's parks, refuges, 
wildlife protections, open space, and contributes to the preservation 
of our historic and cultural resources.
  I would have also voted to support Representative Rahall's amendment 
to strike Division C, Title III of the Energy Bill (#143). I oppose 
these provisions that provide benefits to certain coal companies at the 
detriment of competition within the coal industry, taxpayers, and the 
environment.
  Finally, I would have voted in support of Representative Dingell's 
motion to recommit the Energy Bill (#144). I support Mr. Dingell's 
efforts to substitute a hydroelectric energy title that would have 
offered increased protections for fish and wildlife.
  On rollcall vote numbered 145, I would have voted ``nay.'' The 
statement that I submitted for the Record during the debate on the 
Energy Bill provides an explanation of why I voted against final 
passage of H.R. 6.

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