WASHINGTON, D.C.–Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid made the following statement today in announcing his intention to bring the energy debate to the floor in the coming weeks:

“Democrats are moving forward with energy legislation to increase the nation’s use of renewable fuels; improve the energy efficiency of vehicles, buildings and products; and advance research on capturing and storing greenhouse gas emissions. It will also save consumers money, protect them from price-gouging, and make our country safer and more economically sound by decreasing our reliance on oil – especially oil from unstable regions.

“To expedite Senate consideration of this important legislation, I took the step today of combining several energy-related bipartisan bills approved overwhelmingly by the Committees on Energy and Natural Resources; on Commerce, Science and Transportation; on Environment and Public Works; and on Foreign Relations. While this Administration has made it a priority to give tax breaks to oil and gas companies even as prices have doubled and oil company profits have soared, this composite bill is a solid first step toward our goals of greater energy independence and reducing the risks of global warming.”

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