Senate Approves $1 Billion for Coastal Restoration, Sets June 28 Energy Bill Vote
After adding a batch of amendments, the Senate was poised to approve a sweeping energy bill on June 28. Working into the night on June 23, lawmakers passed more than 20 riders, including a plan to divide $1 billion in federal oil and gas lease revenue over four years among Louisiana and five other energy-producing coastal states, with the money to be used for environmental restoration.
Budget Committee Chairman Judd Gregg (R-N.H.) tried to block the coastal amendment, which was offered by Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Pete Domenici (R-N.M). Gregg contended that the rider would set up "a new entitlement" for a few states and that the funding would push the underlying bill over its budget allocation. But lawmakers voted 69-26 to waive the budget restriction, comfortably above the 60 votes needed to do so.