In declaring that “four years of debate is enough,” President Bush Wednesday night urged both houses of Congress to pass broad energy legislation during the upcoming months.

“Nearly four years ago, I submitted a comprehensive energy strategy that encourages conservation, alternative sources, a modernized electricity grid and more production here at home,” he said during his State of the Union address before a joint session of Congress.

“Four years of debate is enough. I urge Congress to pass legislation that makes America more secure and less dependent on foreign energy,” he said during the hour-long address. It was the only reference to the energy bill in the speech.

Christine Tezak, energy analyst for Stanford Washington Research Group, questioned whether a single reference in the State of the Union address was enough to get lawmakers moving on energy legislation. “Congressional leaders have criticized the administration for not actively helping to muster votes to get this legislation enacted. We need to see more than a brief reference to passing a bill to believe that the administration has made that commitment before we start predicting enactment.”

The conference report on the energy bill cleared the House of Representatives last year, but it got bogged down in the Senate. House and Senate leaders reportedly have made energy legislation a top agenda item this session. Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX), chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, said he expects the House to vote on energy legislation by Presidents’ Day (Feb. 18). Sen. Pete Domenici (R-NM), chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, also seems determined to have early Senate action on an energy bill.

The president gave Congress a “significant nudge” during his address to get the energy bill passed, Domenici said during a Senate energy panel hearing Thursday.

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