A major component of the Senate's energy policy was an increase in the domestic production of fossil fuels. One provision in the legislation would sanction an Interior Department study of potential areas for off-shore oil drilling and natural gas extraction. To prevent off-shore drilling activities, Senator Bob Graham (D-FL) proposed striking the Interior Department study from the energy legislation. Progressives voted in favor of Graham's measure because, in their view, allowing more oil exploration and extraction is not a long-term solution to addressing nation's vast energy consumption. Rather, Progressives argued that greater emphasis should be placed on the research and development of renewable energies; those energies, unlike oil, would provide future generations with abundant energy supplies. Moreover, in the view of Progressives, off-shore oil drilling often causes serious environmental damage to marine life and oceanic ecosystems and should therefore be avoided. The Graham amendment failed to attract a majority vote and was defeated 45-53.