Transcripts For CSPAN2 U.S. Senate 10192017 20171019 : vimar

CSPAN2 U.S. Senate August 17, 1020

Would preemptively strike it. I think its fair to say that we have opportunities within the Energy Sector to help advance this country when it comes to our Energy Security, our National Security, and our economic security. But we need to be able to move forward with that. So what we are able to do within this instruction that is pretty wide open is, is to focus on those areas where we might be able to see increased Energy Production that could bring us new wealth, create new wealth in this country. So im going to be the first to agree that some of our options within this open instructions are better than others. Some will create jobs. Some may end jobs. Some will reduce energy costs as opposed to raising them. Some will actually increase our energy and mineral security as opposed to sacrifice or selling it off. And so what i would hope that members would do is look at this instruction as an opportunity to do something constructive for the country. And the best example of that really is to expand Energy Development in our federal areas where we have seen decline in recent years. I think we recognize that responsible development not only will reduce our immediate deficits, but its about jobs and job creation. Its about wealth and wealth creation, about allowing us to build new wealth and create prosperity. It will help Energy Affordability for our families and businesses, something that i hear about all the time. It will strengthen our National Security and our competitiveness. And this is a point that needs to be emphasized over and over and over again. Its not only Energy Security, but its National Security. When we are vulnerable on other nations for our energy resources, there is an energy insecurity. But we also realize that Energy Production will ensure the type of growth that we need to finally begin reducing the federal debt which is now over 20 trillion. But in short, what we will be able to do with this energy instruction is allow us to create new wealth. Why would that not be something that we would not all embrace . I think that the instruction will allow us to really see some enduring benefits that will be felt all across our country. And i think its important to recognize and to state that this does not come at the expense of our environment. This is not an either or appropriation. Anyone, anyone familiar with modern development can recognize that just as the scare tactic that it is. Senator sullivan, my colleague from the state of alaska, was on the floor earlier this morning, and he spoke to the outdated, the stale arguments that we have heard repeated on the floor and why we must reject them. Now the amendment that we have in front of us, 1301, simply strikes the section in the resolution that would provide for the Energy Committee instruction. But the purpose perhaps takes it a little bit further in mentioning and bringing out the Arctic National wildlife refuge, anwr. Theres been a lot of discussion on the floor about anwr already. Senator sullivan, when he spoke earlier, spoke to the broader opportunities that we have seen in the arctic with Arctic Development in general. But i want to just raise a few facts about anwr more specifically since its clearly been put out there for discussion. And as an alaskan and one who has been part of these debates for many years now not only here on the senate floor but in alaska, we know what were talking about when we discuss the issue of Arctic Development. We know and understand what anwr is, what the willed where the wilderness area is and where the 1002 area is. And i think its important to put it into context. Anwr is an area of 19. 3 million acres. Its about the size of the state of South Carolina. Included in this anwr area is a eight million acres of federal wilderness. So youve got wilderness area, you have refuge area. But you have nonwilderness area designated as the 1002 area. Thats this area on the coastal plain. This is an area of 1. 5 million acres. Delaware is about 1. 3 million acres. But the 1002 area is what was specifically set aside, specifically set aside under anilca that would allow for consideration for its oil and gas potential. So when anwr was established, it was recognized that there were areas that were appropriate for wilderness and there were areas that were appropriate to be reviewed and considered for their exploration and production potential. And thats what were talking about within the 1002 area. But even within this area that was specifically set aside, we are not asking to develop all of the 1002. We are asking to develop just 2,000 federal acres within it, effectively one ten thousandths of the refuge area. You cant see it, but that little red dot is basically what were talking about. Thats what were talking about. And we can say this. We can say we dont need to do more than 2,000 acres in this 19. 3 million acre area that has been set aside specifically for oil and Gas Production because of what has happened over the decades with regard to our technologies, how we have worked to reduce the footprint since prudhoe bay opened nearly, over 40 years ago. Well pads on the north slope have shrunk by over 80 in these intervening years. Were talking now about pad areas that are 12 acres in size, 10, 11, 12 acres in size. So weve reduced the footprint dramatically, but what we have expanded dramatically is the subservice reach. The new technologies have allowed us to increase the ability to reach out under the surface to an area 125 square miles 125 square miles. We have increased by 4,000 percent in the years that weve been producing, exploring and innovating up north, the technologies that we use for exploration, senator sullivan showed the ice roads that we use, that reduce, again, the impact on the surface and avoid the need for permanent roads. We use forwardlooking infrared cameras to survey for polar bear dens so we can avoid them. There is actually a story just this spring about a polar bear that was denning. We found where she was by using the technologies that we know. And literally working around where that polar bear was until she emerged from her den with her cub in the spring. Its working with the technologies that we have to allow for the activity but with minimal disturbance to not only the land but to the wildlife there. Caribou. We all know about the caribou up in the north slope area. And what we have learned is that over the years the caribou that occupy these areas have not suffered. In fact, they have thrived. When Oil Development first began, we were looking at herds in the numbers of about 5,000. Just this last year the herd, the caribou herd is numbering about 22,000, and it has maintained steady and substantial levels. So when you understand what the 1002 area really is and what development would actually look like, its not hard to understand why you have alaskas support. Over 70 of alaskans support responsible development there. Now i want to give you one of the best examples. Matthew rexford is the president of kaktovik innuclearupiat, a gf Community Leaders from our north slope and he wrote a great opinion piece not too long ago explaining why he supports responsible development in the 1002 area. Im going to submit his full comments for the record. But a very brief part of them provides as follows as anwr debates occur, the views of the inupiat who call the area home are oftentimes left out. The wishes of the people who live in and around the refuges coastal plain frequently are drowned out by people who live hundreds, even thousands of miles away, many of whom have never bothered to set foot anywhere near the arctic. Well, today is a new day. And he goes on to speak as to the voice of the arctic inupiat, which is members from across the arctic slope who have voted unanimously to pass a resolution supporting oil and Gas Development in the 1002 area. He goes on further to state, when oil was first discovered on our land in 1969, the inupiat were worried of industry activities and fought hard for selfdetermination to protect our subsistence resources so we fully understand the trepidation from outsiders, the fear that the presence of industry could disrupt wildlife and affect americas manufacturing perspective of our land and culture. However we also have the benefit of decades of experience working with the oil and gas industry to implement stringent regulations to protect our lands and the industry consistently is lived up to our standards. Prudhoe bay, the Largest Oil Field on the continent located 60 miles west of the coastal plain of anwr has demonstrated for four decades that Resource Development and ecological preservation can coexist in the arctic. The oil and gas industry supports our communities by providing jobs, business opportunities, and Infrastructure Investments has built our schools and hospitals and provided other basic services most americans may take for granted. Our region recognizes its importance to our local and state economy and believe development can be done responsibly in a portion of the 1002 area. We are not alone. The presiding officer im with matthew and these are the. Ms. Murkowski im with matthew. These are the voices we should be listening to. My answer is yes, opening the nonwilderness 1002 area to development is an option to meet the instructions to the Energy Committee. But it is not the only option. But i will tell you it is the best option. And it is on the table. But we should be clear. Amendment 1301 is not a vote to open the 1002 area or to keep it closed. Its about whether or not this instruction should stay in the budget resolution and its about whether or not were going to recognize the substantial benefits that await us or whether were going to ignore our future energy needs. And once again wind up in a situation where we see prices rising, families hurting and everyone is wondering why didnt you act when you had a chance. I think we all recognize that were enjoying some benefits of lower energy prices, and some have suggested here that, hey, were all fine. We dont need to do anything. A few have even said that because were exporting oil now, we dont need to we dont need to do more for ourselves here. Truly an open invitation to ignore the supply side. And thats just a bad idea. Weve been down that road before, and we know enough not to be in that place again. The e. I. A. , the Energy Information administration, projects that in 2040 the world is going to be using more oil, not less. And they project that our country will still be importing about seven Million Barrels a day on a net basis. They project prices will be back above 100 a barrel. Theres other experts that are already pointing to other signs. The International Energy agency recently found that, quote, Global Oil Supply could struggle to keep pace with demand after 2020 risking a sharp increase in prices unless new projects are approved soon. So my point here is we have an opportunity. We have an opportunity not only to help america, to create jobs, to allow for opportunities not only in my home state but around the country, we have an opportunity to ensure a level of Energy Security while at the same time broadening this to enhance our National Security. So what im asking colleagues today is not cramp this very important conversation. Give us a chance to give instruction in committee. Well be able to have hearings and put the options out on the table and understand fully how we can do more when it comes to Energy Production in this country. So let the Energy Committee do its part here. Lets not pull the plug even before we get going. I think given everything that weve heard here on the floor about strengthening our economy and protecting the middle class and making life better for the people we serve, we have to ask the legitimate question why would you leave energy out of this debate . Why would we limit our opportunity to create new wealth in this country . Mr. President , i would again ask the senate to reject this amendment. It would deprive us of a substantial opportunity to benefit our country and ensuring that we have great prospects and possibilities in front of us. The Energy Committee wanted to see this instruction in the budget resolution. Ive got every confidence we can meet it. I would urge members to vote no on the motion to strike when that comes up later today. Thank you, mr. President. I yield the floor. The presiding officer the senator from delaware. Mr. Coons are we currently in a quorum call . The presiding officer we are not. Mr. Coons i join my colleague from the state of virginia, senator warner, in keeping from tax reform from ballooning our deficit. The republican budget includes a troubling provision that would exempt a 1. 5 trillion tax reform bill from the important requirement that legislation that adds cost to the u. S. Government must be paid for rather than merely added to our deficits. This rule, well known to our colleagues, is one which i am troubled to see a number of longtime friends choose to ignore this time around, a role long known in the senate as the payasyougo rule, or paygo. Its an important rule that forces congress to be responsible stewards of dollars. It is to find offsets rather than add to our National Debt. It is the right policy and its been in place for years. So its, frankly, jarring that this budget document that would include a provision that exempts a 1. 5 trillion tax reform bill from the paygo rule. Look, i agree, we need to Work Together towards a bipartisan tax reform bill, one that reduces taxes on the middle class and simplifies our overly complicated tax code. We cant pass a budget that allows congress to put 1. 5 trillion more on the governments credit card, on our credit card. I want to thank senator warner for his long leadership on the need for fiscally responsible governing. Senator warner, as a rm former as a former governor, understands the danger our National Debt poses to our longterm economic prosperity. I am proud to work with whim and remind our colleagues of the senates longstanding support of paygo, and i encourage all members, especially my republican colleagues to support this amendment. And now, if i might, with the forbearance of my colleagues, speak to one other amendment for a moment. Its an amendment ive introduced that i know may well not get a vote, but i wanted to speak to. It would ensure as we consider tax reform we dont forget those most in need of our assistance right now and in the future. The United States was hit very hard by three hurricanes and many wildfires this year and in particular puerto rico, a u. S. Territoryof 3. 4 Million People and now has a humanitarian crisis. 3. 4 Million People is several times more than live in my state of delaware. Its about the size of connecticut. Once we get past the initial crisis and restore power and provide Drinking Water and ensure people have housing, then puerto rico, the u. S. Virgin islands, and areas of houston, texas, miami, and florida an areas affected by wildfires will have significant rebuilding needs. We have representatives of the governor of puerto rico and the governor himself here on the hill this week clarifying just how much more will be needed for the marshall style Investment Plan needed to rebuild puerto rico. I will advocate that we provide further support from folks from the corporation from National Community service, americorps, and triple c corporation. We will need investments for cdbg, parks, and infrastructure. I wanted to reference, before i hand it over to my colleague from virginia, a Second Amendment that would prevent us from moving forward on tax reform before we first provide by the americans affected by the needs. I thank my colleague for his fiscal responsibility. I yield the floor. The presiding officer the senator from virginia. Mr. Warner i thank my colleague for his fiscal responsibility. Before he served in the senate, he served as head of one of the largest counties in delaware. Whether you serve as a county chairman or governor, youre used to the notion that you have to pay your bills and i i appreciate very much his support for this amendment, keeping paygo in place. Let me also echo that i absolutely support his notion that the american citizens in puerto rico deserve not to be forgotten, deserve to receive the same attention that we have bestowed upon americans in texas, florida, louisiana, or elsewhere around our great country when they are victims of national disasters, and i would simply amend i hope that the senator from delaware has a chance to get his amendment. I hope as well while puerto rico is not receiving sufficient attention, there is an american territory nearby, the american Virgin Islands that have the same kind of challenges. I hope if the senator gets a chance to raise that amendment, he includes the u. S. Virgin islands in the amendment as well. Mr. President , i call up amendment 1138 which i filed at the desk. The presiding officer the clerk will report. The clerk the senator from virginia, mr. Warner, proposes an amendment numbered 1138 to amendment numbered 1116. Mr. Warner i ask unanimous consent that the reading be dispensed with. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Warner i rise today and speak in favor of my amendment striking the language in the budget resolution that would exempt the 1. 5 trillion tax reconciliation ins

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