Urges Need to Reduce U.S. Dependency on Foreign Oil

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The United States Chamber of Commerce and the Alliance for Energy and Economic Growth (AEEG) — which includes organized labor — today announced that it has launched a broad radio and print ad campaign to urge the Senate to pass a comprehensive energy plan that will reduce U.S. dependency on foreign oil.

"We are more dependent on foreign oil than ever before and it's because we haven't had an energy plan in two decades," said Thomas Donohue, U.S. Chamber president and CEO. "The Senate must act now to reduce our energy dependency and secure America's future."

The ads — which feature Donohue and Teamsters President James Hoffa — urge the Senate to include ANWR as part of a broad-based energy package.

The Chamber has led the fight for a national energy plan and co-chairs AEEG — a broad-based coalition of more than 1,350 small and large businesses, labor unions, and energy suppliers urging Congress to pass such a plan.

Last year, the House passed comprehensive energy policy legislation — H.R. 4, the Securing America's Future Energy Act of 2001. This legislation will ensure a reliable, affordable domestic supply to meet our future needs and protect our national security, according to the Chamber. It is a balanced approach that expands the use of all domestic sources of energy including nuclear power and renewable sources.

"Our nation's economic and national security depend on swift Senate approval of an energy plan that supports domestic energy supplies," said Donohue. "We are mobilizing our grassroots network and will continue the ad campaign to keep the pressure on the Senate."

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world's largest business federation representing more than three million businesses and organizations of every size, sector and region.

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