The trust fund would also be used to help fund many of the alternative energy provisions not paid for in the 2005 National Energy Act (EPACT) and the 2007 National Energy Bill (EISA).  The funds generated for such programs will not only provide a way forward away from a finite oil supply but will cost the tax payers of America not one penny. 

Chairman Young’s bill is gaining many supporters most notably his co-sponsor Rep. Bartlett who has often in the past been against ANWR legislation.  Rep. Bartlett held a press conference on Capitol Hill announcing his change of policy due to his understanding of the huge economic benefit of ANWR oil development on the nation at a time when gasoline and food prices are at record highs.  Bartlett stated, “Investing this money in alternative sources of energy will eventually reduce gas prices because supply and demand will come forth to balance and the price will drop.”

Another switch has come from Representative James Walsh of New York who has a long standing opposition history to ANWR legislation.  Representative Walsh announced his change of opinion stating that, "I've always taken the position that we should retain that oil in reserve.  As long as it's in the ground we can use it in the event of an emergency. And I think what is happening today constitutes an energy emergency. I think we need to go, in an environmentally sensitive way, to take that oil out."

The switch of mind has caused quite a stir on Capitol Hill.  With these two public converts others will follow. 

Already the pressure to address this long delayed decision on ANWR by congressmen and women from particularly the mid-west has proven too much for some.  Representative Donnelly (D) of Indiana (2nd) recently was pressured to change his position partly perhaps by his congressional election race opponent Luke Puckett.  Mr. Puckett challenged Donnelly, who has been against 10-02 development, to go with him and visit the area to see and know what he was talking about.  Donnelly refused, but the issue of gas and food prices has not gone away in Indiana and recently Donnelly quietly changed his position on ANWR and has announced he now supports it.

HR 6107 is based loosely on a former bill HR. 5429 The American Made Energy and Good Jobs Act by then Nat. Res. Cmte. Chairman Richard Pombo.  That bill succeeded in the House with a vote of 225-201, but was not addressed in the Senate which has always been a stumbling block on ANWR due to the possible threat of filibuster.  House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), a long term anti-ANWR foe, has sent Chairman Young’s bill to three committees for review: the Science & Technology Cmte, the Natural Resources Cmte., and the Energy & Commerce Cmte.  The bill needs to be passed in committee and then moved to the floor for debate before the end of the year when all pending bills are wiped clean and a new Congress takes office in January 2009.

The national energy situation is getting worse daily.  With prices for crude touching $140 per barrel there is certain to see many new faces on the side of ANWR exploration in Congress.  Chairman Don Young has been a long term supporter of ANWR both from a national perspective and a local state’s perspective.  ANWR tax profits will be split 50-50 between the Federal Government and the State of Alaska and at current market value represent over 1.3 Trillion dollars to the US economy.  ANWR revenues set to go into an alternative energy trust fund by Chairman Young’s bill could total as much as $289 billion over 30 years the Energy Information Administration states.  Within 22 months of presidential signature of an ANWR bill lease sales could take place generating between $3.5 and 4$ billion according to the Office of Management and Budget.  These funds come at no cost to the American tax payer and will dwarf previous Congressional earmarks towards alternative energies. 

View Chairman Young’s bill at the House Minority Resources Committee.

The Text of the bill can be found here:
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h110-6107

A review of the bill can also be viewed at Rep. Virginia Foxx’s (NC) web site at the following address:

http://www.foxx.house.gov/?sectionid=55&sectiontree=54,55&itemid=1222

View an article on Rep. Donnelly’s ANWR position views.