Congressman
Elton Gallegly
Serving the 24th District of California

http://www.house.gov/gallegly/press2006.htm

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 21, 2006

 Contact: Tom Pfeifer
(202) 225-5811

Gallegly Votes to Protect Shoreline, Increase Oil Supply

WASHINGTON, DC—Congressman Elton Gallegly (R-Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties) applauded the overwhelmingly bipartisan vote today in the Resources Committee for a commonsense approach to escalating fuel costs.

The Deep Ocean Energy Resources (DOER) Act passed the Resources Committee, where Gallegly is a senior member, by a vote of 29-9. Gallegly voted in favor of the bill.

The bill would codify the current moratorium on oil and gas leasing within 50 miles of the coastline and make it permanent. States would have the option to opt out, but only with the express approval of the state legislature and the governor. States will also have the option of banning oil and gas leasing up to 100 miles off shore.

“I have long been an advocate of giving states a say in the resources off their shores,” Gallegly said, noting that he voted to uphold the moratorium in a House vote last month. “This bill does exactly that. States that do not want oil and gas exploration off their shores are protected. Those that wish to tap their resources may do so.”

States that wish to grant leases within the 100-mile zone would share in oil and gas royalties from the leases.

The federal government would be empowered to grant leases on the Outer Continental Shelf more than 100 miles offshore.

The United States is the only developed nation in the world that restricts access to its offshore energy resources, putting it at an economic and strategic disadvantage as economic growth in China and India pressure global energy markets.

“As gas prices continue to hover well over $3 a gallon, Congress needs to continue to find balanced and commonsense approaches to managing our energy needs,” Gallegly said.