109th Congress / Senate / 1st session / Vote 213
- Question: On the Conference Report
- Bill: H R 6
- Vote description: Conference Report H. R. 6; Energy Policy Act of 2005
- Vote type: 1/2 (Help)
- Result: Agreed to, 74-26.
- Date/time: July 29, 2005, 12:50 p.m.
- Republican majority opinion: Yes (Help)
- Democrat majority opinion: Yes (Help)
Key Vote Analysis
The Bush administration said this bill's $14.5 billion in tax breaks and incentives would spur oil and gas companies to find innovative ways to reduce the nation's dependence on foreign oil, conserve resources and reduce pollution. Supporters also said the bill would lead to the creation of more oil refineries, new oil drilling projects and new nuclear power plants -- arguing that all were necessary to meet the nation's energy needs and reduce importation of foreign oil.
Opponents said the measure amounted to a give-away to large energy companies already flush with cash due to rising oil and gas prices and that it would do little to solve the nation's energy-related problems. Opponents further argued that the bill could lead to drilling in coastal and other sensitive areas and damage the environment.
The bill called for increase use of alternative fuels such as ethanol and offered incentives for development of alternative energy sources (such as wind and solar), tax breaks for hybrid cars, construction of more energy efficient buildings. The bill did not include the controversial proposal to open Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) for oil drilling, but the proposal was added to a later bill, which was defeated.
The final version of the energy bill passed both the House and Senate in late July 2005 and was signed into law by the president on August 8, 2005.
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