[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 69 (Friday, May 9, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S5983]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                     THE ENERGY POLICY ACT OF 2003

  The PRESIDENT pro tempore. Under the previous order, the Senate will 
resume consideration of S. 14, which the clerk will report.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 14) to enhance the energy security of the United 
     States, and for other purposes.

  The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The majority leader.


                           Amendment No. 539

  (Purpose: To eliminate methyl tertiary butyl ether from the United 
 States fuel supply, to increase production and use of renewable fuel, 
           and to increase the Nation's energy independence)

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I send an amendment to the desk.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       The Senator from Tennessee [Mr. Frist] for himself and Mr. 
     Daschle, Mr. Inhofe, Mr. Dorgan, Mr. Lugar, Mr. Johnson, Mr. 
     Grassley, Mr. Harkin, Mr. Hagel, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Voinovich, 
     Mr. Nelson of Nebraska, Mr. Talent, Mr. Dayton, Mr. Coleman, 
     Mr. Edwards, Mr. Crapo, Mr. Conrad, Mr. DeWine, and Mr. 
     Baucus, proposes an amendment numbered 539.

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that reading of the 
amendment be dispensed with.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  (The text of the amendment is printed in today's Record under ``Text 
of Amendments.'')
  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I am pleased to offer this renewable fuels 
amendment on behalf of myself and Senator Daschle, as well as a number 
of other Senators on both sides of the aisle who have worked on this 
important issue for a number of years.
  I think the fact that the Democratic leader and I have joined 
together to offer this amendment demonstrates the significance of this 
particular issue as well as the broad bipartisan support that this 
compromise package enjoys.
  I do want to take this opportunity to commend all of the cosponsors 
of the amendment, many of whom came to the floor yesterday morning to 
speak, for their hard work, their dedication over the years in forging 
this agreement. I also note that the President has made passage of this 
amendment a priority, and I commend him for his commitment to getting 
this done.
  This particular amendment will enhance America's energy independence 
and energy security by increasing the use of domestically produced, 
clean, renewable fuels. As the chairman of the Energy Committee has 
pointed out many, many times, America is dangerously dependent on 
foreign oil. We currently import 60 percent of the oil we consume, and 
that number is increasing. One of the major goals of this energy bill 
we are debating on the floor of the Senate is to reduce our dependence 
on foreign oil. This amendment is a critical component of that effort.
  The Frist-Daschle amendment establishes a national renewable fuels 
standard of 5 billion gallons per year by the year 2012, nearly 
tripling the use of ethanol and biodiesel over the next decade. It 
phases out the use of MTBE over a 4-year period and authorizes funding 
to prevent and clean up MTBE contamination from leaking underground 
tanks. And it repeals the Federal oxygen content requirement for 
reformulated gasoline, with strong antibacksliding language to ensure 
that air quality is not compromised.
  Mr. President, as I said, this amendment is the product of a great 
deal of work by many Members of the Senate over the last several years. 
It is a compromise that has broad, bipartisan support. It will reduce 
our dependence on foreign oil. It will protect the environment. It will 
create jobs. It will increase farm incomes. It will stimulate 
investment in rural communities.
  I look forward to working with Senator Daschle and all of the other 
supporters of this package to get it adopted as expeditiously as 
possible.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The minority whip.

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