Commissioner Curt Hebert met no resistance yesterday at hisreconfirmation hearing before the Senate Energy and NaturalResources Committee. The panel was scheduled to meet later in theday to approve his reconfirmation to a new five-year term at theFederal Energy Regulatory Commission, and then forward it to thefull Senate for a vote.

Senate Energy Chairman Frank Murkowski (R-AK) and Sen. LarryCraig (R-ID) assured Hebert that they would try to “expedite”committee approval and “move it quickly to the [Senate] floor,”where his renomination was not expected to encounter any problems.

Both Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-MS) and Sen. ThadCochran (R-MS) appeared before the panel to endorse Hebert for asecond term, which would expire in June 2004. Lott told thecommittee that Hebert had agreed to serve his first FERC term,which was only a partial one, “with the understanding that he wouldget a second term.” Hebert had finished the term that was vacatedby former Commissioner Donald Santa.

Lott noted that Hebert had “more than adequate qualifications,”a “common sense approach,” and “understands the world of energy.”Additionally, he “acted very responsibly” during his first term atFERC.

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