Reid, Bingaman Seek Energy Bill Before Memorial Day Recess

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said he hopes to bring clean energy legislation to the Senate floor before Congress’ Memorial Day break.

Reid told reporters Tuesday that Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chair Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.) indicated some energy measures may can garner bipartisan support within the committee.

“Chairman Bingaman thinks that prior to the Memorial Day recess he can get some energy legislation out of his committee that we can work on here in the floor,” Reid said.

Bingaman indicated early Tuesday that he is looking to hold a committee vote in May that would create an agency within the Department of Energy called the “Clean Energy Deployment Administration.” The independent agency would boost innovation and commercialization in clean energy technology.

“Anything [Bingaman] gets out of his committee with little exceptions can be bipartisan in nature so I look forward to doing something in energy. We’re really behind in energy legislation,” Reid said.