"It's absolutely crucial that Congress take up an energy infrastructure bill before we leave here," Landrieu told reporters. "This would help us move in that direction."

Congress aims to finish its work for the year by early November.

Money for the program would come from the annual royalty payments made by oil and natural gas companies for drilling on federal offshore leases. The Interior Department collected nearly $4 billion in royalty payments last year, she said.

Landrieu said her legislation did not specify what kinds of protection would be funded, but said military patrols and software upgrades were among the possible projects.

Most private U.S. oil, gas and power companies have already beefed up their own security measures since the deadly Sept. 11 attacks on the Pentagon and World Trade Center that killed at least 5,500 people.

The attacks have raised concerns about the vulnerability of U.S. nuclear power plants, natural gas pipelines and oil refineries.

"It's not fair to ask the industry to pick up the full tab, and there are some real issues of safety for communities around our nation," Landrieu said.

Under her proposal, about one-third of the $2 billion would be earmarked for Louisiana, Texas and four other major energy states. The remaining 70 percent of the money would be spread among all 50 states.

The program would be run by the new Office of Homeland Security, an anti-terrorist office headed by former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge, she said.

Landrieu also said she was "disappointed" in the unusual step by the Senate Democratic leadership late Tuesday to halt Energy Committee work on a comprehensive energy bill. That legislation, which had not yet been completed by the committee, aimed to boost U.S. domestic production, encourage conservation and fund development of alternative sources.

Landrieu said her energy security legislation could pick up some of those components, such as funds to buy more crude oil for the nation's Strategic Petroleum Reserve or drilling in an Alaska wildlife refuge.