Congressman Tom Price (R-GA) issued the following statement in response to the Obama administration’s plan to keep the West Coast off limits to oil and gas drilling while severely limiting energy production on the East Coast.

“President Obama’s plan for our energy future puts the entire West Coast off limits to oil and gas production along with much of the East Coast,” said Congressman Price. “The very limited exceptions, while a baby step in the right direction, hardly compare to the bountiful resources this administration continues to lock away from the American people. After more than a year of delay, the decision to prevent the United States from realizing its full energy potential flies in the face of reports that the administration’s own data show Americans support offshore drilling by a two-to-one margin.

“Despite the spin, the President really just reiterated his desire for more restrictions and more delays on offshore oil and gas production. Worst of all, he continues to push for a National Energy Tax. The disastrous economic damage from such a misguided policy would eclipse the limited new drilling allowances thousands of times over. President Obama is still light years away from the all-you-can-create energy policy this country needs.”

Note: The RSC and the Western Caucus have introduced H.R. 2828, the American Energy Innovation Act. This “all-you-can-create” energy legislation represents a fiscally responsible approach to reducing our dependence on foreign energy, providing a cleaner environment, and putting Americans to work through increased innovation, conservation, and production of American energy.