It is a shame that this appropriations bill contains nothing of substance to address the immediate needs of American citizens who face a national energy crisis according to the President. The citizens in Western States will endure more hardship as the summer unfolds. Democrats offer national initiatives for real near-term solutions that could be implemented quickly on a bipartisan basis. It is unfortunate that Republicans reject such proposals, and instead have produced this appropriations bill that fails to respond to the national energy crisis in any meaningful way.

DAVID R. OBEY.

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