The U.S. Senate moved past a three-month impasse on a comprehensive energy bill Wednesday after stripping emergency funding to address the Flint, Mich., water crisis from the document.
The bill, which has bipartisan support, is the most comprehensive energy legislation since 2007. It reinforces the nation's energy infrastructure and modernizes government energy policy at time when the United States is the world's leading producer of oil and natural gas, the use wind and solar power is increasing and clean-air regulations are changing power systems across the country.
It has been delayed because it includes an amendment providing $600 million to Flint to aid victims of lead-corroded pipes and water so harmful that residents are relying on bottled drinking water.
The Flint provision includes $250 million in federal funding to replace its water lines.