Scalise: Administration’s OCS decision will cost American jobs, increase dependence on Middle Eastern Oil

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Washington, DC -- Congressman Steve Scalise today released the following statement after Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced that new OCS drilling in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico and along the Atlantic coast will not be allowed for the next seven years.

 “While OPEC will certainly love today's announcement, unfortunately this purely political decision by President Obama will cost thousands more American jobs and increase our dependence on Middle Eastern oil,” Scalise said.  “This retreat away from domestic energy sources will jeopardize America’s energy security and does absolutely nothing to make energy exploration and development safer, nor does it ensure that we work to a more energy independent future, and I am incredibly disappointed that the only result of this decision is the guarantee that we will become more dependent on Middle Eastern countries to satisfy our energy needs.  Instead of pursuing their own reckless agenda, President Obama and his administration should be focused on solving real problems threatening the Gulf in the aftermath of the BP disaster by removing the job-killing permitorium and passing the Gulf Coast Restoration Act to restore our coast and wetlands."

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Contact: Stephen Bell
202-226-9113