will continue to work on an energy policy bill from alaska senator lisa murkowski and senator maria cantwell of washington state. their legislation would require upgrades to the nation's electric grid, speedup permitting for natural gas exports, improve energy efficiency standards for commercial and federal buildings, and permanently extend a fund to provide state and local government money to conserve land or recreation. the chaplain, dr. barry black, will lead the senate in prayer. the chaplain: let us pray. loving god, your providence guides our going out and comng in, and we praise your great name. today, help our lawmakers to exercise that cool judgment that is worth far more than a thousand hasty words. remind them that soft answers turn away anger and that humility precedes honor. as they work to do what is best for our nation and world, use their lips to provide more light than heat, as their words build up instead of tearing down. may the words of their mouths and the meditations of their hearts glorify you. and, lord, bless the faithful members of our fall page class as they prepar

commonsense approach, trying to bring all parties together, you've done a great job, working with maria cantwell, from the democrat, our side, state of washington findings, with a little bit of something for everybody. understanding that the energy policy should be an all-in energy policy. i know coming from a fossil fuel state and you come from a fossil fuel state and people think they can live without it, i just think they can live better with it if we use technology, and that's what we have tried to push in this piece of legislation. but on the opiate, i have a lot -- i just have a passion. i have watched it be so devastating. when you have young kids coming to you, telling you they watched their parents die, overdosed, they have watched their families ruin, they have watched their families split up and the kids have been taken in different directions, it makes your heart bleed and makes you think about future generations, what we're going to face. and then -- and then to have the food and drug administration give you one example, it took -- i have been working three years to get all opiates

i want to congratulate senator lisa murkowski, republican of alaska, senator maria cantwell, democrat, of the state of washington, the chair and ranking member of the energy and natural resources committee, applaud them for their effort and thank them for bringing this bipartisan measure to the floor. the energy policy modernization act is a result of the committee's multiple hearings on over 100 individual bills. if passed, it would be the first major energy bill approved by congress in nine years. mr. president, a lot has changed in nine years. the u.s. has dramatically increased natural gas and oil production. renewable energy production is skyrocketing, and the cost of this has decreased. more americans are using it. we're also finding new and better ways to address our most pressing energy and climate change challenges. the bill before us takes those new developments into account and updates our policies. the act strengthens energy efficiency measures for federal buildings and multifamily homes and reauthorizes important programs like weatherization and energy. in illinois, that