Metairie, Oct 24 -  Congressman Bobby Jindal (LA-01) today issued the following statement regarding the announcement on OCS oil and gas leasing.

"While today's announcement delays the lease sale until MMS can complete an environmental impact study, the most important battle is for revenue to help restore our coasts. We are close in Congress to passing a bill that would fix the 1990s lease problem, providing Louisiana billions of dollars over the next 10 years.

The main issue that remains concerns questions over boundary lines from the original Senate bill and how those map lines will impact division of revenues from the Senate bill among Gulf States. I want the best deal for Louisiana and don't believe this remaining issue is enough to kill the whole bill. Even though time is short when we return in November, I am confident that Congress will send a bill to the President that will give Louisiana a share of energy royalties.

I am encouraged by the fact that the President earlier this month in St. Louis once again encouraged Congress to send him a bill to sign and leadership continues to remain steadfast in their commitment to me that they will pass final legislation this year."

-- Congressman Bobby Jindal