“We are hopeful that the House’s efforts during ‘Energy
Week’ will result in an increase in public awareness that
the need to pass a comprehensive energy package with RFS is also
about our nation’s long-term energy security,” stated
NCGA Director of Public Policy Samantha Slater.
More information was released Friday on both the Highway Trust
Fund bill (HTF) and the foreign sales corporation/extra territorial
income (FSC/ETI) bill.
The House appointed 52 conferees to the Highway Trust Fund bill.
The 31 Republicans and 20 Democrats from the House Transportation
and Infrastructure, Budget, Education and the Workforce, Energy
and Commerce, Government Reform, Judiciary, Resources, Rules, Science,
and Ways and Means committees will join the previously named (May
10) 11 Republican and 10 Democratic conferees from the Senate.
House Majority Leader
Tom DeLay (R-Texas) was named a “roving” conferee
that will have the opportunity to attend any or all negotiations,
as well as act as liaison to House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.).
The three Senate conferees that will hold leadership roles include:
Minority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.), Minority Whip Harry Reid
(D-Nev.) and Majority Whip Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).
The first conference meeting for the HTF has been scheduled for
June 9. It is unclear at this time whether the $18 billion energy
tax portion has been included in the FSC/ETI bill. However, if
the provisions are left out of the bill, they are expected to be
negotiated in conference. The bill phases out the FSC/ETI tax break
for exporters over three years, with beneficiaries retaining 100
percent of their benefits in 2004.
“We strongly urge both House and Senate Democrats and Republicans
to come together in a real effort – not just a symbolic endeavor – to
do what is inherently right for Americans, and that is passing
a comprehensive energy bill,” concluded Slater.