House passes expanded 5-year OCS plan; senators offer similar bill

摘要

US Senate Republicans and Democrats offered similar legislation as the US House adopted a bill that would replace the Obama administration's proposed US Outer Continental Shelf oil and gas program for 2012-17 with a significantly expanded series of lease sales. The White House said it would veto HR 6082 before the bill cleared the House by 253 to 170 votes. Introduction by Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alas.) of a similar bill with at least three Democrats—Mark R. Warner and James A. Webb of Virginia, and Mary L. Landrieu of Louisiana—as cosponsors puts pressure on Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) to at least allow debate on the matter.