SENATE APPROVES BIPARTISAN AMENDMENT TO REDUCE OIL CONSUMPTION BY ONE MILLION BARRELS PER DAY

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The United States Senate today approved a bipartisan amendment sponsored by Senator Susan Collins that would reduce U.S. reliance on foreign oil by one million barrels per day by 2013. The amendment to the Energy Bill, which is currently being debated by the Senate, directs the President to adopt economy-wide efficiency measures to reduce oil consumption.

"As long as the United States continues to guzzle foreign oil, we will be at the mercy of the foreign nations that control that oil," said Senator Collins. "Reducing our energy consumption by one million barrels per day will help keep energy prices down and will keep billions of American dollars here at home."

The Amendment, approved by a vote of 99-1, gives the President the discretion in choosing the particular energy savings measures to achieve the savings goal. Likely measures that could be employed include increasing fuel efficiency standards for SUVs, reducing heavy truck idling, and weatherizing homes which use home heating oil.

For example, weatherizing homes that use home heating oil could save 80,000 barrels of oil per day. Replacing inefficient automobile tires would save 270,000 barrels of oil per day, and cracking down on heavy truck idling would net a savings of 50,000 barrels of oil per day.

"The adoption of this amendment is the right thing to do for the environment, for the economy, for consumers, and for America."