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House OKs Stopgap Spending Bill that Ends Offshore Oil Drilling Ban, Allows Oil Shale Exploration

WASHINGTON – The House of Representatives voted Wednesday on a stopgap spending bill that also ends the ban on offshore oil drilling and allows research into oil shale development – two measures that have been championed by Congressman Jerry Lewis for the past three months as part of the congressional budget process.

The legislation passed Wednesday will fund most of the federal government at Fiscal Year 2008 levels through March 6, 2009. It includes new fiscal year funding for the Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security and the Veterans Administration. It also provides $22.6 billion in disaster relief funds for states ravaged by hurricanes and fires.

As the lead Republican member of the House Appropriations Committee, Lewis said he was extremely disappointed that the House was unable to finish the 13 appropriations bills for Fiscal Year 2009, but was gratified that the House finally agreed to help America improve its energy supply. Lewis pushed the committee to vote in June on whether to suspend the offshore moratorium, but Committee Chairman David Obey of Wisconsin shut down the entire appropriations process to avoid the vote.

“Had we dealt with the OCS moratorium and oil shale in full committee in June, we would have completed all of our bills by now,” Lewis told his colleagues Wednesday. “It is now late September and, finally, the voices of millions of Americans—financially drained from paying for four-dollar gas—are being heard. (This legislation) represents a giant step toward securing America ’s energy independence.”

Lewis has insisted throughout the year that it was the responsibility of the Appropriations Committee to end the bans on offshore drilling and oil shale exploration, since they have been included in the annual spending measures. The Interior Department may now move forward on a process that will protect the nation’s environment while allowing for development of new resources that could substantially reduce the dependence on foreign oil, Lewis said.

“While it is true that it will take years for these resources to be fully developed, I am convinced that the fact that America is moving to energy independence will keep gas prices from climbing back over $4 a gallon,” Lewis said. “This is an important part of our overall energy policy that includes development of alternative fuels and energy-saving technologies. 

The spending measure is set to go to the Senate for approval later this week. It must be in place by September 30 to continue the operation of the federal government in the new fiscal year, Lewis said.

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