Washington, DC – Today, Congressman John Culberson (R-TX-07) issued the following statement in response to the Obama Administration’s ban on offshore oil drilling in the eastern Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic and Pacific coasts:
“Citing the recent oil spill in the Gulf, the Obama Administration announced today it would not allow offshore oil drilling in the eastern Gulf of Mexico or off the Atlantic and Pacific coasts as part of a five-year drilling plan. This announcement comes on top of a de facto moratorium that remains in place on shallow and deepwater permits.
“Shutting off access to the rich resources off our nation’s coasts will raise energy prices, dampen economic growth, send American jobs overseas, and inflict more pain and suffering on American consumers during these difficult economic times.
“What the administration has ignored during this debate is the fact that the United States offshore energy industry follows the world’s strictest standards for human safety and environmental protection. If we shut down our offshore drilling operations, our increasing demand for energy would force us to import even more oil and gas from countries with lax or subpar safety and environmental standards. We wouldn’t be eliminating the risks; we would be exporting and expanding them.
“I have repeatedly called on President Obama to lift the moratorium and cosponsored legislation to do just that. I look forward to continuing the fight in the 112th Congress.”
###
