CAMPBELL INDIAN ENERGY AMENDMENT APPROVED IN CONFERENCE
Washington D.C.: Today the joint House - Senate Energy Conference agreed
to an amendment offered by Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell (R-CO) to
encourage the exploration and development of oil, gas and other energy
resources on Indian lands.
"I'm very pleased that the Conferees agreed to my amendment," said Campbell,
a member of both the Energy and Indian Affairs Committees, "especially with
the turmoil in the world right now the United States needs to be more
independent of foreign oil producers and this amendment will help us boost
domestic production."
the energy legislation pending in the Senate contains a number of
Indian-related provisions including the establishment of an Indian energy and
policy office within the Department of Energy, studies of renewable and
nonrenewable energy potential on Indian lands, and technical assistance to
tribes.
Campbell, who earlier won Conference support to include non-renewable as well
as renewable resource development in the bill, had the backing of major Indian
tribal organizations and Indian tribes from around the country. "This language
is modest in length but I am happy to say that it will have major economic
impacts for Indian tribal energy producers and energy security implications
for all Americans."
The Campbell amendment would streamline the Federal leasing process and
facilitate tribal exploration and development of energy resources on their
own lands. "I beleive that tribes ought to be freed from the Federal shackles
so that they can make their own decisions about their own resources on their
own lands. The amendment will help tribes create jobs and will help secure the
energy independence of the U.S."
According to Campbell, the energy amendment is just one element in a larger
effort to assist tribal economic development. "It has long been my belief that
the Federal government has to do more than give lip service to Indian tribal
self-determination. If the government cannot give real assistance to Tribes
in becoming self-sufficient, then the very least it can do is get rid of the
red tape that is keeping the Tribes from doing it on their own."
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CONTACT: Paul Moorehead 202-224-2251
September 12, 2002