House Passes Energy Bill

By a vote of 249 to 183, the House approved an $8 billion energy bill which would give tax breaks over 10 years to promote more long-term production of domestic oil, natural gas, coal, nuclear and other forms of energy, as well as to boost production of ethanol.

House Majority Leader Tom Delay praised passage of the bill, saying it "provides our nation with a comprehensive, environmentally friendly energy policy."

House Majority Whip Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) called the bill "a balanced approach to promoting our energy security while preserving our natural resources and creating jobs."

"Passage of this bill moves the country one step closer to a more affordable and reliable energy supply," said Blunt. "This bill also creates nearly a half a million jobs in the manufacturing, construction, agriculture and technology sectors while protecting thousands of jobs that would potentially be lost due to an unstable supply of energy."

Rep. John Peterson (R-Pa.), who applauds the bill, said more still needs to be done "to increase the availability of clean-burning natural gas."

Democrats and liberal interest groups are opposed to the bill