WASHINGTON, D.C.­ Chairman Frank H. Murkowski today expressed his pleasure that the House of Representatives placed such a resounding vote of confidence in the Conservation and Reinvestment Act, CARA, with a 315 to 103 vote. Murkowski is the sponsor of the same bill in the Senate, S. 2123, along with Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-Louisiana.

"It is about time Congress recognized the importance of offshore oil and gas production to this nation¹s energy security and time it recognized the unavoidable impacts suffered by the coastal states that are willing to host this production. The coastal impact assistance in this bill will help address those impacts, there has been an inequity over this for a long time," said the Chairman.

"But the further beauty of this landmark conservation bill is that all states benefit-not just coastal states, but also interior mountain states­not just urban areas but also rural America. I intend to do all I can to use the momentum of this House success to report a bill from the Energy and Natural Resources Committee and move it to the Senate floor," said Murkowski.

At the same time, the Chairman said the House has left many issues unresolved. "House floor consideration of this bill illustrates the problems we face. Every one of the 25 or more amendments on the House side was offered by either an opponent to federal land acquisition, an appropriator or a budget hawk. We will face the same opposition and it is much more difficult to limit debate in the Senate."

On the arguments against more federal land acquisition, Murkowski has suggested that a "no net loss" provision might help convince more of the western state senators on the Committee to support the bill.

"Finally I would say that everyone needs to realize there must be a healthy OCS (Outer Continental Shelf) program of oil and gas drilling, for there to be any money in royalties to finance this bill," said Murkowski.