01.24.01

Cantwell Secures Agreement From Murkowski to Include Washington Testimony in Upcoming Deliberations on Energy Crisis

Committee votes 18-2 to forward Norton Nomination for Interior Department to Senate for full consideration

WASHINGTON, D.C. - As the energy crisis in the Western United States intensifies, Senator Maria Cantwell of Washington secured an agreement from Senate Energy and Natural Resources Chairman Frank Murkowski (R-AK) to include testimony from representatives of Washington state during committee action next week to address the crisis.

Cantwell secured the agreement after Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) asked Murkowski to move forward with committee deliberations on the energy crisis. Yesterday, new U.S. Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham extended a federal order requiring Western power providers to continue to provide power to California utilities.

"It is important that all the states involved in the energy crisis have the opportunity to state their case before the committee takes any action," Cantwell said after this morning's session. "The crisis is having a major impact on Oregon and Washington and officials from my state, and others, should have the opportunity to be heard."

"Yesterday's extension of the federal order requiring other states to provide California with scarce energy resources is a temporary fix to a much larger problem and I have great concerns about the financial risks being taken by Northwest utilities to accomodate the order," Cantwell continued. "I have invited Secretary Abraham to come to Washington to meet with Governor Locke and Attorney General Gregoire so that he can see first hand how these actions have affected the state of Washington."

The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee also voted 18-2 today to forward to the Senate floor the nomination of Gale Norton to be the Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior.

"I remain critical of Gale Norton's record and share the concerns of environmental activists about her past policy positions," said Cantwell. "However, with the strong commitments made under oath to uphold and enforce the nation's major environmental laws, and her acceptable qualifications for the office of Secretary of Interior, I will support President Bush's nomination of Gale Norton. Ms. Norton has pledged to work on key issues affecting our state as well as her national obligation to environmental protection. The Northwest will insist that environmental protection is a genuine priority and the people of Washington state will hold the Bush Administration and Gale Norton to their word."