The Bush administration today defended its decision to allow oil and gas exploration in the Chukchi Sea off Alaska despite concerns that such activities could threaten the future of the polar bears.
The testimony came at a House hearing by a special panel on energy independence and global warming. Democratic Reps. Jay Inslee of Washington and Edward Markey of Massachusetts were among the lawmakers who warned of the consequences for polar bears.
In an interview with the National Association of Manufacturers, U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab recapped trade news in 2007 and previewed what is on the agenda for 2008. The topics include enactment of the U.S.-Peru trade agreement.
A previous episode of NAM’s “America’s Business” vodcast included other excerpts from the groups interview with Schwab, as well as an interview with House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman John Dingell, D-Mich.
Here’s an excerpt from Dingell in reaction to Congress’ decision to include in a new energy law language to increase fuel-efficiency standards for vehicles: “It will be hard for industry to meet, but industry has supported that and has indicated it is something that they can do and will do. And so it is a meaningful stride forward.”
Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., discussed her involvement in a federally supported project to dredge the Miami River on an episode of “Comcast Newsmakers” and posted the segment to the Capitol Hill Broadcasting Network.
If all goes as planned, the first session of the 110th Congress will end next week, but Congress still hasn’t finalized emergency funding for U.S. troops in Iraq and Afganistan. That reality continues to irritate President Bush.
“Congress has had plenty of time to consider the emergency funds our troops need. Time is running out,” Bush said in his weekly radio address. “And Pentagon officials say that continued delay in funding our troops will soon begin to have a damaging impact on the operations of our military. Congress’ responsibility is clear: They must deliver vital funds for our troops — and they must do it before they leave for Christmas.”
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California focused on a completely different subject in the Democratic address: energy legislation passed by her chamber. She touted provisions to improve fuel-efficiecy standards for vehicles and to foster the U.S. biofuels industry, among other things. The goal is to make the United States less dependent on foreign oil as an energy source.
“Our energy bill will strengthen our national security, protect consumers from spiraling energy prices, create jobs, and meet our moral obligation to preserve our planet for future generations,” Pelosi said. “It will tell the world that America is prepared to become a leader in addressing the global climate crisis.”
Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney granted an interview to technology blogger Michael Arrington of TechCrunch today. They discussed a few tech policy topics, including tech growth policies, Internet taxes, H-1B visas for high-skilled workers, venture-capital tax issues and renewable energy.
You can read the transcript at TechCrunch or listen to the interview.
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