Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 24, 2008

CONTACT: Leslie Shedd
(202) 225-5565

Congressional Offshore Drilling Ban Lifted after Republicans, American People Demand an All of the Above Energy Policy

Washington, DC - Congressman David Obey (D-WI), Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, announced yesterday that the stopgap spending bill, or continuing resolution, will not contain a moratorium on oil and gas drilling off the Atlantic and Pacific shores, effectively lifting the offshore drilling ban that has been in effect since 1982.  This announcement follows urging by Republican members of Congress and the American people to lift the offshore drilling ban after energy costs began to skyrocket this year.

“I applaud the majority party for finally listening to the American people and effectively lifting the Congressional ban on offshore drilling,” stated Lucas.  “This is a first step in putting this country on the path of energy independence.”   

The Department of the Interior has jurisdiction over offshore drilling, however Congress began using its funding power to restrict offshore drilling by restricting funds necessary to lease offshore areas to oil and gas companies.  They were joined by a presidential directive issued in 1990 by then-President George H.W. Bush and renewed in 1998 by then-President Bill Clinton which ordered the Department of the Interior to no longer issue oil and gas leases in deep ocean energy zones.  President Bush lifted the executive ban in July of this year, leaving Congress as the remaining block to oil exploration in our offshore reserves.

“Congress still has a long way to go in our efforts to end our dependency on foreign oil and decrease the cost of gas at the pump,” stated Lucas.  “I have been fighting to bring H.R. 6566, the American Energy Act, to the House floor for debate and a vote.  I am a proud cosponsor of this ‘all of the above’ piece of energy legislation that will increase all forms of American energy.  By increasing all forms of American energy, we can decrease our dependency on foreign oil, create new jobs, and put money back into the American economy.”

Last week, the House voted on H.R. 6899, the majority’s no-energy energy bill.  Republican and Democrat members of the Senate have stated that the bill will not come to a vote in the Senate because it contains no real provisions to expand oil exploration in ANWR, no funds to revitalize the nuclear power program, and includes an $85 billion tax increase that will be born by the American people.

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