Off Shore Energy (July 2008) PDF Print
Major Increase in U.S. Energy Supply One Step Closer

For the last twenty years, there have been two prohibitions on offshore drilling, one imposed by Congress and another by executive order.  I'm happy to tell you that President Bush has decided to lift the executive ban on offshore energy exploration.  This is a good first step because we need to take immediate action to combat skyrocketing energy prices.  While there is no overnight solution, starting to increase domestic energy production will benefit us greatly in the long-term.  The United States is the only nation in the world that restricts offshore energy development and 85% of our resources have been placed off limits.

But the President's decision alone will not spur increased production - Congress must lift the legislative ban on offshore exploration.  As a longtime supporter of environmentally-safe oil exploration off of our coasts, I am frustrated that the Democratic Leadership in Congress continues to stand idly by while these high energy costs continue to affect all Americans.  I have joined with House Republicans in attempting to use procedural methods that would force Congress to take an up-or-down vote on increasing domestic energy production.  You can read more about those efforts here.  I will continue to urge Members of Congress to take substantive action and remove our self-imposed embargo on American energy production.