Senate starts debate on broad energy billWASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate on Wednesday began debate on the country’s first major energy bill in over eight years, featuring measures aimed at protecting the electric power grid against cyber attacks and speeding exports of liquefied natural gas.  Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski, Republican chair of the Senate energy committee and Washington Senator Maria Cantwell, its ranking Democrat, urged lawmakers not to thwart passage of the bipartisan bill, which cleared their panel in an 18-4 vote. A handful of senators planned to file amendments to the bill  to spur legislative action on the water crisis in Flint, Michigan and to address other more contentious energy issues.  Aides said Democratic Senators Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow of Michigan plan to offer amendments laying out a legislative response to the Flint emergency. They would not provide details on the amendments. Republican Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah and other western lawmakers are expected to offer an amendment that would make it harder for the U.S. Interior Department to move forward with a moratorium on coal development on federal land introduced this month. “Let’s show the Senate can work. Let’s not go crazy with a bunch of ancillary things,” Cantwell said on the Senate floor.  Murkowski said the bill is the result of more than a year of working with committee members to find common ground on a handful of key priorities. “We found common ground in many areas, more, perhaps, than any of us expected,” Murkowski said. The bill focuses on energy efficiency, infrastructure, supply, accountability, and conservation. Measures include expediting the permitting of LNG projects, natural gas pipeline permits, boosting hydropower production and improving defenses against cyber attacks on the electric grid. Murkowski and Cantwell tried to craft a bill that could pass with bipartisan support in an election year. In December, Congress voted to repeal a 40-year-old ban on exporting crude oil, a Republican policy priority. The deal also included the Democratic goal of extending tax breaks to boost renewable energy for five years. “Not only will this bipartisan legislation help bring our energy policies in line with the demands of today, it will also help position us to benefit from the opportunities of tomorrow,” said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. He told reporters he expected to complete debate on the bill next week. The Obama administration said in a statement it “supports some provisions of the legislation” but has concerns with a few elements. politicsNews
senate starts debate broad energy billwashington reuters the senate wednesday began debate country first major energy bill eight years featuring measures aimed protecting electric power grid cyber attacks speeding exports liquefied natural gas alaska senator lisa murkowski republican chair senate energy committee washington senator maria cantwell ranking democrat urged lawmakers thwart passage bipartisan bill cleared panel vote a handful senators planned file amendments bill spur legislative action water crisis flint michigan address contentious energy issues aides said democratic senators gary peters debate stabenow michigan plan offer amendments laying legislative response flint emergency they would provide details amendments republican senator train hatch utah western lawmakers expected offer amendment would make harder interior department move forward moratorium coal development federal land introduced month let show senate work let go crazy bunch ancillary things cantwell said senate floor murkowski said bill result year working committee members find common ground handful key priorities we found common ground many areas perhaps us expected murkowski said the bill focuses energy efficiency infrastructure supply accountability conservation measures include expedition permitting lng projects natural gas pipeline permits boosting hydropower production improving defenses cyber attacks electric grid murkowski cantwell tried craft bill could pass bipartisan support election year in december congress voted repeal ban exporting crude oil republican policy priority the deal also included democratic goal extending tax breaks boost renewable energy five years not bipartisan legislation help bring energy policies line demands today also help position us benefit opportunities tomorrow said senate majority leader mitch mcconnell he told reporters expected complete debate bill next week the obama administration said statement supports provisions legislation concerns elements politicsnews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: Senate starts debate on broad energy billWASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate on Wednesday began debate on the country’s first major energy bill in over eight years, featuring measures aimed at protecting the electric power grid against cyber attacks and speeding exports of liquefied natural gas.  Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski, Republican chair of the Senate energy committee and Washington Senator Maria Cantwell, its ranking Democrat, urged lawmakers not to thwart passage of the bipartisan bill, which cleared their panel in an 18-4 vote. A handful of senators planned to file amendments to the bill  to spur legislative action on the water crisis in Flint, Michigan and to address other more contentious energy issues.  Aides said Democratic Senators Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow of Michigan plan to offer amendments laying out a legislative response to the Flint emergency. They would not provide details on the amendments. Republican Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah and other western lawmakers are expected to offer an amendment that would make it harder for the U.S. Interior Department to move forward with a moratorium on coal development on federal land introduced this month. “Let’s show the Senate can work. Let’s not go crazy with a bunch of ancillary things,” Cantwell said on the Senate floor.  Murkowski said the bill is the result of more than a year of working with committee members to find common ground on a handful of key priorities. “We found common ground in many areas, more, perhaps, than any of us expected,” Murkowski said. The bill focuses on energy efficiency, infrastructure, supply, accountability, and conservation. Measures include expediting the permitting of LNG projects, natural gas pipeline permits, boosting hydropower production and improving defenses against cyber attacks on the electric grid. Murkowski and Cantwell tried to craft a bill that could pass with bipartisan support in an election year. In December, Congress voted to repeal a 40-year-old ban on exporting crude oil, a Republican policy priority. The deal also included the Democratic goal of extending tax breaks to boost renewable energy for five years. “Not only will this bipartisan legislation help bring our energy policies in line with the demands of today, it will also help position us to benefit from the opportunities of tomorrow,” said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. He told reporters he expected to complete debate on the bill next week. The Obama administration said in a statement it “supports some provisions of the legislation” but has concerns with a few elements. politicsNews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: senate starts debate broad energy billwashington reuters the senate wednesday began debate country first major energy bill eight years featuring measures aimed protecting electric power grid cyber attacks speeding exports liquefied natural gas alaska senator lisa murkowski republican chair senate energy committee washington senator maria cantwell ranking democrat urged lawmakers thwart passage bipartisan bill cleared panel vote a handful senators planned file amendments bill spur legislative action water crisis flint michigan address contentious energy issues aides said democratic senators gary peters debate stabenow michigan plan offer amendments laying legislative response flint emergency they would provide details amendments republican senator train hatch utah western lawmakers expected offer amendment would make harder interior department move forward moratorium coal development federal land introduced month let show senate work let go crazy bunch ancillary things cantwell said senate floor murkowski said bill result year working committee members find common ground handful key priorities we found common ground many areas perhaps us expected murkowski said the bill focuses energy efficiency infrastructure supply accountability conservation measures include expedition permitting lng projects natural gas pipeline permits boosting hydropower production improving defenses cyber attacks electric grid murkowski cantwell tried craft bill could pass bipartisan support election year in december congress voted repeal ban exporting crude oil republican policy priority the deal also included democratic goal extending tax breaks boost renewable energy five years not bipartisan legislation help bring energy policies line demands today also help position us benefit opportunities tomorrow said senate majority leader mitch mcconnell he told reporters expected complete debate bill next week the obama administration said statement supports provisions legislation concerns elements politicsnews