The House passed an amended version of the Senate’s bipartisan energy bill Wednesday and will head toward a conference committee to work out a final piece of legislation.
In a 241-178 vote, the House approved the energy bill and then motioned to go to conference committee with the Senate, which passed the bill in April. The House version of the bill contains the House energy bill, which passed the lower chamber in December, fused onto the Senate version.
The amended bill was widely panned by Democrats, who voted against the bill in droves. Just eight House Democrats voted in favor of the amended version of the bill.
Six Republicans broke party ranks and voted against the measure.
Republicans say the amended bill modernizes the country’s energy infrastructure, allows easier export of liquefied natural gas, strengthens energy security, improves efficiency and helps lessen the impact of environmental regulation on businesses.
The bill also expedites liquefied natural gas exports, which Republicans say will help lessen the natural gas glut while strengthening the United States’ allies. There are also provisions in the bill to fight drought in California’s Central Valley and help western states fight wildfires.
“Our communities … have waited long enough,” said Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore. “They have choked on smoke summer after summer long enough.”
However, Democrats attacked the bill as an attack on clean energy and an example of Republicans kowtowing to the fossil fuel industry. Some criticized the bill for ignoring climate change and not doing enough to update energy infrastructure and invest in clean energy.
Rep. Kathy Castor, D-Fla., said the bill showed congressional Republicans do not have their finger on the pulse of what American citizens want from energy legislation.
“It is a giveaway to special interests and it’s a missed opportunity,” she said. “The GOP Congress is out of sync with the American public.”
